Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

• DOI: 10.1176/foc.2.1.17
• Publication Date: 2014-12-17T19:56:48Z
• Authors: Michael D. Jibson; Ira D. Glick; Rajiv Tandon
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; 3. Good health

Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating psychotic disorder that affects 1% of adults. Symptoms the illness are highly variable from person to but typically include "positive" symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, thought disorganization), "negative" (blunted affect, social dysfunction, lack motivation), cognitive impairments, and mood disturbance. Recurrence active psychosis, progression symptoms, deterioration in all areas life function rule. Given combination onset early adulthood persistent schizophrenia incurs enormous financial personal costs. The biological basis not clear known genetic, environmental, developmental factors. Recent research findings underscore importance dopamine systems maturational changes brain. Treatment includes psychosocial interventions address deficits, family issues, functional impairments medication treatment control symptoms. Atypical antipsychotic medications used as first-line pharmacotherapy; clozapine for patients with treatment-refractory illness, depot conventional antipsychotics responsive noncompliant patients. Optimal provided community-based centers expertise disorder. Ensuring adequate support such treatment, however, continuing challenge.