First Argentine Consensus Statement on the Management of Schizophrenia. Section I: Introduction and General Concepts

The accumulated body of knowledge in the field of schizophrenia is vast yet often complex, fragmented, and, in some cases, inconsistent with certain practices that have been inadvertently perpetuated in psychiatric training over recent decades. In response to this gap, the Argentine Association of Biological Psychiatry (AAPB) initiated the development of the First Argentine Consensus on the Management of Schizophrenia, prepared by a multidisciplinary panel of national experts in the field. This article presents the first section of the consensus, which outlines the working methodology employed and reviews the current definition of schizophrenia, incorporating diagnostic criteria from both the DSM-5 and ICD-11. It also addresses the major unmet clinical needs in schizophrenia, summarizes recent neurobiological findings, and examines the environmental and psychosocial factors implicated in the onset and course of the disorder. Finally, the section emphasizes the importance of prevention and early intervention, highlighting the need for updated, evidence-based, and contextually adapted practices within the Argentine mental health system.