Effective and Efficient Treatment Strategies to Enhance Recovery from Schizophrenia: How Much Longer Will People Have to Wait Before we Provide Them?

Abstract

Strong evidence that integrated pharmacological and psychosocial strategies can markedly reduce the clinical, social and family morbidity associated with schizophrenic disorders has been obtained in a large series of random controlled trials. Despite this evidence, very few people with schizophrenic disorders receive these treatment strategies. Very few services attempt to provide them, particularly early in the course of these disorders when recovery is most readily achieved. This report outlines a method of providing the evidence-based clinical strategies. An international initiative to deliver such services in routine practice is described. Evaluation of clinical, social and economic outcome is being conducted systematically over a five-year period, during which treatment is provided according to the needs of the individual and his or her community resource group at that phase in the recovery process. Very early results demonstrate the feasibility of this approach.