Pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia

The pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia remains a critical component i n the short- and long-term management of this disease. Considerable progres s has been made! in delineating different domains of this illness, ranging from positive and negative symptoms to cognitive dysfunction and psychosoci al vulnerabilities. Increasingly, treatments are being studied in relation to a variety of different outcome measures with functional ability and qual ity of life achieving appropriate emphasis. The introduction of a new generation of antipsychotic drugs has helped to r aise optimism and expectations. overall, second-generation drugs do provide clear advantages in terms of reducing adverse effects (particularly drug-i nduced Parkinsonism, akathesia, and, hopefully, tardive dyskinesia). Advant ages in alleviating refractory symptoms, negative symptoms, depression, and suicidal behavior are found in same reports; however, much remains to be d one methodologically in establishing the relative merits of specific drugs in the multiple domains of interest. Biol Psychiatry 1994;46:1396-1408 (C) 1999 Society of Biological Psychiatry.