[A patient with a prolonged untreated psychosis]

A 30-year-old male was treated with antipsychotic medication because he had developed psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia. It became apparent that the symptoms had been present for many years, but, unfortunately, remained untreated. In the literature there is some evidence of a link between an untreated psychosis of long duration and a poor prognosis. Several early intervention programmes are based on this link. In this case report we illustrate that treatment of a psychosis that has lasted for many years can yield amazingly rapid results.