The effects of early and sustained intervention on the long-term morbidity of schizophrenia.

By examining the literature concerning early intervention with antipsychotic medications, and how it affects long-term morbidity, this article will review the concept that early intervention with antipsychotic medications improves the long-term course of schizophrenia. It also looks at the potential long-term effects of discontinuing antipsychotic medications early in the course of schizophrenia. It appears that early intervention with antipsychotic medications decreases some of the long-term morbidity associated with schizophrenia. Some of the implications of this finding are discussed in the context of both clinical practice and clinical research.