[Specialised treatment in first episode schizophrenia: concepts and results]

Multifaceted evidence suggests that patients in the early phase of a psychotic disorder need a specific treatment strategy meeting their specific needs and problems in this "critical" phase of the disorder. The present review summarises this evidence and presents early treatment approaches according to already internationally established different models, while in Germany comparable concepts are only in a pilot stage. Previous evaluation studies showed a superior efficacy of such early treatment approaches compared to conventional standard treatment in terms of both clinical outcome and in relation to the total costs of treatment. Questions remain, however, especially with regard to the specificity and durability of such effects, and with regard to the effective treatment components. Before similar programmes can be broadly established in Germany, a consensus on their indispensable characteristics and appropriate quality indicators should be achieved.