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Previous Volume 349:1738-1749 October 30, 2003 Number 18 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating psychotic mental disorder that affects about 1 percent of people. A new generation of medications and recent developments in neuropathology, brain imaging, and molecular genetics have led to a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and to improved treatment. Nonetheless, it remains an enigmatic illness that places a substantial burden on patients, their families, and society.

Clinical Characteristics

Schizophrenia has varied and ominous symptoms that generally begin in late adolescence or early adulthood and usually continue throughout life.¹ Most patients have a history of behavioral dysfunction — primarily social and learning difficulties.² Diagnostic features of schizophrenia . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Pathophysiology

Schizophrenia and Dopamine

Evidence of Multiple Types of Brain Dysfunction

Genetic Findings in Schizophrenia

Pathophysiology and Pharmacologic Treatment

Antipsychotic Treatment

First-Generation Antipsychotic Agents

            Efficacy

            Side Effects

Second-Generation Antipsychotic Agents

            Clozapine

            Newer Second-Generation Agents

            Side Effects

            Cognitive Improvement

Treatment Guidelines

Treatment of a First Psychotic Episode

Maintenance Treatment

Indications for Clozapine

The Role of First-Generation Antipsychotic Agents

The Choice of an Antipsychotic Drug

Early Intervention

Source Information

From the Institute for Children's Mental Disorders, University of Colorado and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Freedman at the Department of Psychiatry, C-268-71, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver CO 80262, or at robert.freedman@uchsc.edu.

Related Letters:

Schizophrenia, Drug Therapy, and Monitoring
Bradford D. W., Stroup T. S., De Socio G. V. L.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2004; 350:415-416, Jan 22, 2004. Correspondence

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