Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
10:32
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Progress in defining optimal treatment outcome in schizophrenia
Gary Remington1, George Foussias, Ofer Agid
1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. gary_remington@camh.net
CNS Drugs
|December 25, 2009
Summary
Schizophrenia treatment has evolved from symptom control to a recovery model emphasizing individualized, multidimensional care. This shift focuses on functional outcomes and quality of life beyond just symptom reduction.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Schizophrenia historically presented with persistent symptoms and progressive decline.
- Early antipsychotics (1950s) improved positive symptoms but had limited efficacy in cognitive/negative domains.
- Second-generation antipsychotics (1990s) aimed for broader efficacy and improved functional outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To redefine treatment goals and outcomes in schizophrenia.
- To highlight the distinction between clinical and functional outcomes.
- To emphasize the importance of quality of life and shared decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical treatment approaches for schizophrenia.
- Analysis of the impact of pharmacotherapy on symptom domains.
- Examination of the evolution of outcome measures in schizophrenia research.
Main Results:
- Pharmacotherapy has shown limited efficacy in addressing all symptom domains of schizophrenia.
- A clear distinction between clinical and functional outcomes is now recognized.
- Quality of life is increasingly prioritized, independent of clinical or functional improvements.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia treatment has shifted from a medical model to a recovery-oriented approach.
- The recovery model is multidimensional, individualized, and process-driven.
- Focus is now on holistic patient well-being, encompassing quality of life and shared decision-making.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
01:28Drug Therapy
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.