Early signs, diagnosis and therapeutics of the prodromal phase of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders

Abstract

During recent decades, interest in the prevention of mental illnesses has increased. Improved diagnostic tools, the advent of atypical antipsychotic medications and the development of phase-specific psychosocial treatments have made intervention research in people at ultra-high risk for developing schizophrenia or a related psychotic disorder possible. Preliminary data suggest that low doses of atypical antipsychotic medications augmented by psychosocial treatments may delay the onset of psychosis in some individuals. Findings support further research for the establishment of best-practice standards.

Keywords::

• cognitive–behavioral therapy
• early intervention
• olanzapine
• omega-3 fatty acids
• prodrome
• psychosis
• risperidone
• ultra-high risk
• ziprasidone

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Michael T Compton receives research support from the National Institute of Mental Health, focusing on first-episode psychosis. He is the Emory University site principal investigator for a trial involving ziprasidone in the prodrome, led by Scott Woods at Yale University and funded by Pfizer. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.