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Therapies for treatment resistance

What is treatment-resistant schizophrenia?

Antipsychotic medications provide symptom relief and improvement in quality of life for many people with schizophrenia. However, for some, antipsychotic medications do not provide adequate relief from symptoms. Treatment-resistant schizophrenia has many definitions that vary depending on the individual study, but a broad definition includes those patients whose symptoms have not responded to antipsychotic medications, or only partially responded, after four or more weeks of treatment with appropriate doses. This topic assesses the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

What is the evidence for psychosocial interventions for treatment-resistant schizophrenia?

Moderate to high quality evidence shows medium-sized improvements in positive and general symptoms with cognitive behavioural therapy compared to treatment as usual, psychoeducation, supportive therapy, or befriending. There were no differences in negative symptoms between the cognitive behavioural therapy and treatment as usual.

September 2020

Last updated at: 4:11 am, 21st September 2020
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Title Colour Legend:
Green - Topic summary is available.
Orange - Topic summary is being compiled.
Red - Topic summary has no current systematic review available.