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Current and future treatment modalities in schizophrenia: novel antipsychotic drugs and cognitive therapy

Peter J McKenna1, Ann M Mortimer

  • 1FIDMAG, Germanes Hospitalàries, and CIBERSAM, C/. Dr. Antoni Pujadas 38, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.

Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|December 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Clozapine remains the only major advance in antipsychotic drug treatment for schizophrenia over 60 years. While some newer drugs offer marginal benefits, novel treatments are still under development.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

  • Schizophrenia treatment has seen limited progress over 60 years.
  • Conventional antipsychotics have been the mainstay, with newer agents offering controversial benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the therapeutic advances in antipsychotic drug treatment for schizophrenia.
  • To assess the current landscape and future directions in managing schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of antipsychotic drug development and clinical trials.
  • Analysis of therapeutic efficacy and limitations of existing and novel treatments.

Main Results:

  • Clozapine is identified as the sole definitive advance in antipsychotic therapy.
  • Atypical antipsychotics show limited, debated advantages over conventional drugs.
  • Novel mechanisms and glutamatergic drugs have yet to demonstrate market-ready efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Significant therapeutic breakthroughs in antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia have been scarce.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy offers minor benefits for psychotic symptoms but not negative symptoms or relapse.
  • Future research is needed to develop more effective treatments for schizophrenia.

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