Low dose medication strategies in the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia

Research on strategies using low doses of neuroleptics in the long-term maintenance and/or prophylactic treatment of schizophrenia is reviewed. The evidence available from prospective controlled trials suggests that substantial dosage reduction is feasible for a subgroup of outpatient schizophrenics and that the incidence of abnormal involuntary movements might be reduced by such a strategy. In addition, lowering dosages may bring about some improvement in psychosocial adjustment. Further work is clearly needed to explore fully the benefit to risk ratio of this strategy and to identify those patients for whom it is most appropriate.