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New advances in pharmacotherapy for early psychosis
1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa. rae@sun.ac.za
Aim:
This review examines the use of antipsychotic medication during the early years of psychosis.
Methods:
A selective literature review was conducted.
Results:
The early years of schizophrenia represent a critical period for intervention. Importantly, first-episode patients differ from those with chronic schizophrenia in several important respects. While treatment response to antipsychotic medication is better, the risk of relapse is also higher. While both first- and second-generation antipsychotics are very effective in reducing symptoms, there are tolerability and some efficacy advantages for the second-generation antipsychotics in first-episode psychosis. Poor medication adherence is a significant problem in early psychosis that is linked to relapse and poses a major barrier to optimizing outcomes. Treatment strategies should focus on, among other things, improving antipsychotic medication adherence.
Conclusions:
The early years of psychosis offer the best opportunity for achieving optimal outcomes. Maintaining symptomatic remission is central to achieving functional recovery.
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