The current unsatisfactory state of relapse prevention in schizophrenic psychoses--suggestions for improvement

The current state of relapse prevention in schizophrenic psychoses is very unsatisfactory. Although in the form of neuroleptics a very efficient means of relapse prevention has been available for almost 40 years, approximately 50% of the schizophrenic patients still suffer a relapse within the first year after their most recent episode. Seventy percent of the hospitalized schizophrenic patients are readmissions, and the noncompliance rate for neuroleptic relapse prevention is 75%. An important factor contributing to these high rates of noncompliance and relapse seems to be the fact that, 40 years after the introduction of neuroleptics, there is still no consensus on how these drugs are to be used in relapse prevention. An inquiry among Austrian and German psychiatrists revealed unacceptably high discrepancies concerning their recommendations for indication and duration of neuroleptic relapse prevention. To overcome this unsatisfactory situation, an international consensus meeting on guidelines for neuroleptic relapse prevention was organized by the author in April 1989. Precise guidelines on indication, duration, and dosage of neuroleptic for relapse prevention that resulted from that meeting are presented.