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Treatment resistance and other complicating factors in the management of schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2014

Martin T. Strassnig  and
Philip D. Harvey
Martin T. Strassnig
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
Philip D. Harvey*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA Research Service, Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, Miami, Florida, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr. Philip D. Harvey, Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Treatment resistance, along with its sibling partial response, remains a common phenomenon in schizophrenia, complicating the disability burden inherent in the disease. Antipsychotic medications are the mainstay of treatment, and treatment resistance has mainly been defined in terms of poor response to antipsychotic medication. At the same time, clozapine, the most effective antipsychotic, remains underutilized at the expense of exposing patients to polypharmacy. We review known causes of disability in schizophrenia, how they impact various areas of everyday functioning, and discuss potential treatment options including but not limited to pharmacological approaches aimed at maximizing treatment response and reducing treatment resistance.

Keywords

Chroniccognitionhealthrefractoryschizophrenia
Type
CME Review Article
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 19 , Issue S1: CME SUPPLEMENT , December 2014 , pp. 13 - 24
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2014 

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Footnotes

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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