INTERMITTENT VS. MAINTENANCE MEDICATION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

善后辅导诊所治疗慢性精神分裂症患者， 社区中使用抗精神病药物的患者。 而 这些药物在预防复发方面的功效已经被证明， 它们严重的不良副作用，特别是迟发性运动障碍， 引起了越来越多的关注。 研究表明，对于许多稳定的 这些药物的作用仅仅是预防性的，即， 它们不会减轻症状或改善功能，但有助于预防 复发 因此，稳定的门诊患者可能仍然存在 停止药物治疗，仅在复发的前驱期接受药物治疗 （间歇性用药）。 本研究试图评估相对 间歇给药与维持给药的疗效比较 药 180名慢性精神分裂症门诊患者将在 以双盲方式随机分配至间歇性或 维持药物治疗 所有患者将参加每周一次的小组 疗法 两种药物治疗方案的不同效果 将通过评估患者来确定 在精神病理学的主要维度方面， 功能、药物副作用、复发率和再住院率。 还将评估对家庭的积极和消极影响 横截面。 将努力评估相对 两个方案的风险收益比。 最后，我们将尝试 描述那些需要维持药物的人和那些表现良好的人的特征 间歇性服药

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.