SCHIZOPHRENIA ALGORITHM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schizophrenia Algorithm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schizophrenia Algorithm

Antipsychotic Algorithm

Drugs and Treatment of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a lifelong disorder. Medications used to treat schizophrenia are referred to as antipsychotics or neuroleptics (acting on nervous system). The first antipsychotic, phenothiazine, was successfully used in 1951 to treat psychosis (Meltzer, Yamamoto, Lowy, Stockmeier, 2008, 45). There are six classes of typical antipsychotics used in the United States: phenothiazines, thioxanthenes, butyrophenones, dibenzoxapines, dihydroindolones, and dibenzodiazepines. These medications are also used to treat other psychotic disorders, not solely schizophrenia.

The typical antipsychotics successfully diminish positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thoughts), but are ineffective against negative symptoms. The medications reach full effect ...