[Schizophrenic patients in the family practice]

Abstract

For over 50 years, therapy with antipsychotics represented the mainstay for the treatment of schizophrenia. While pharmacological antipsychotic approaches are especially important during the acute course of the disease, other therapeutic procedures such as psychotherapy and sociotherapy have become increasingly important for maintenance and relapse therapies. Treatment with newer atypical antipsychotics provides a pharmacological therapy that can be adapted to the needs of the individual patient and includes aspects such as favourable side effect profiles, better quality of life and hence, increased medication compliance. Negative symptoms still represent a therapeutic challenge, especially in conjunction with chronic residual symptoms.