[Prevention of psychotic disorders]

Psychotic disorders set the first example that prediction and prevention programs of modern medicine can also be successfully applied to central psychiatric disorders. In the last 20 years criteria for the detection of high-risk states prior to the first onset of the disease have been worked out and the predictive power for the transition into psychosis has been confirmed. In the centers for early recognition and prevention, persons seeking help and advice can now be classified into individuals in an early or late high-risk stage by means of newly developed instruments. New possibilities of risk stratification ensure a more individualized selection of appropriate preventive measures. The interventions provided aim at improving risk symptoms, preventing psychosocial disabilities and in particular preventing or at least delaying the onset of psychosis. Proof of efficacy is so far available for newly developed psychotherapeutic methods, neuroprotective agents and low dosage antipsychotics. Prior to administration careful risk-benefit analyses have to be carried out for each individual case.