ACUTE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA: INTRODUCTION TO THE WORD FEDERATION OF SOCIETIES OF BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GUIDELINES

The goals and strategies of treatment in schizophrenia may vary according to the phase and severity of the illness. Antipsychotics remain the cornerstone in the acute phase treatment, in the long-term maintenance therapy and in the prevention of relapse of schizophrenia. This paper is intended to review the current practice in the management of the acute treatment of schizophrenia based on the recently published guidelines from the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP). Both first generation antipsychotics (FGAs) and second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are effective in the acute treatment of schizophrenia and in relapse prevention. Clinicians must keep in mind that most patients are likely to require long-term, if not lifelong, treatment which determines treatment strategy with an optimal balance between efficacy, side effects and compliance. In this regards, SGAs do have some advantages, but the risk of metabolic syndrome must be taken into account and carefully checked at regular intervals during the follow-up