Psychosocial strategies for maximizing the effects of psychotropic medications for schizophrenia and mood disorder.

This paper reviews strategies for dealing with psychosocial processes underlying resistance to compliance with psychotropic agents in schizophrenic and bipolar patients. The nature of those processes are described and methods for resolving them are suggested. The strengths and limitations of a narrow psychoeducational approach are discussed. Conditions in which other psychotherapeutic approaches are needed to buttress psychoeducation are illustrated.