Pharmacotherapy management of schizophrenia for family physicians

Canadian family physicians likely encounter 1 or 2 new patients per year with signs or symptoms of schizophrenia. Although antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia is generally the responsibility of a psychiatrist, family physicians play an important role in the long-term management of schizophrenia, including the management of antipsychotic adverse effects. Additionally, family physicians might initiate antipsychotic treatment for patients experiencing psychosis when immediate referral to a psychiatrist is not possible. Antipsychotic medications are the mainstay of schizophrenia management and attaining a stable medication regimen as soon as possible following diagnosis helps to prevent future disability. Unfortunately, antipsychotic medication nonadherence and adverse effects are common in schizophrenia management, making the goal of attaining a stable medication regimen challenging to achieve. Here, Bool et al provides an overview of pharmacotherapy management of schizophrenia for family physicians through a case-based approach.