INTERMITTENT VS. MAINTENANCE MEDICATION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

善后诊所治疗慢性精神分裂症是一种常规做法 患者在社区内服用维持性抗精神病药物。而当 这些药物在预防复发方面的疗效已经被记录在案， 它们严重的不良副作用，特别是迟发性运动障碍，有 引起了越来越多的关注。研究表明，对于许多稳定的人来说 门诊病人这些药物的作用只是预防性的，即， 它们不能减轻症状或改善功能，但确实有助于预防 旧病复发。因此，存在保持稳定的门诊患者的可能性 停药，只在复发的前驱阶段接受治疗 (间歇用药)。这项研究试图评估相对的 间歇给药与维持性给药的疗效比较 药物治疗。180名慢性精神分裂症门诊患者将 以双盲方式随机分配给间歇性或 维持药物治疗。所有患者都将参加每周小组活动 心理治疗。两种药物治疗方案的疗效差异 超过两年的时间将通过评估患者来确定 在精神病理学的主要维度方面，角色 功能、药物副作用、复发和再住院率。 还将评估对家庭的正面和负面影响。 横断续续。将努力评估亲属 两个项目的风险收益比。最后，将进行一次尝试 区分那些需要维持药物的人和那些做得很好的人 接受间歇性药物治疗。

It is routine practice for aftercare clinics to treat chronic schizophrenic patients in the community with maintenance antipsychotic medication. While the efficacy of these drugs in preventing relapse has been documented, their serious undesirable side effects, especially tardive dyskinesia, have been causing increasing concern. Studies have shown that for many stable outpatients the actions of these medications are prophylactic only, i.e., they do not reduce symptoms or improve functioning, but do help to prevent relapse. Thus, the possibility exists that stable outpatients may remain off medication and receive it only during prodromal phases of relapse (intermittent medication). This study attempts to evaluate the relative efficacy of intermittent drug administration compared with maintenance medication. One hundred eighty chronic schizophrenic outpatients will be randomly assigned in a double blind fashion to either intermittent or maintenance drug therapy. All patients will be engaged in weekly group therapy. The differential effectiveness of the two drug treatment programs over a two-year period will be determined by evaluating patients cross-sectionally in terms of major dimensions of psychopathology, role functioning, drug side effects, relapse and rehospitalization rates. Positive and negative effects on families will also be evaluated cross-sectionally. Efforts will be made to evaluate the relative risk-benefit ratio of the two programs. Finally, an attempt will be made to characterize those who need maintenance medication and those who do well on intermittent medication.