Continuous versus targeted medication in schizophrenic outpatients: outcome results

The authors report on the outcome of treatment of 116 outpatients with chronic schizophrenia who were assigned to a 2-year, single-blind course of treatment with either targeted or continuous medication. These patients were not restricted to those who were good candidates for a medication reduction strategy. Continuous medication was superior to targeted medication in preventing decompensations and hospitalizations and in extent of employment at 2 years. Other measures of psychopathology and functioning at 1 and 2 years did not differentiate the two groups of patients. The targeted approach achieved a substantial reduction in total medication through a reduction in the number of days of medication administration.