MedWire News: Schizophrenia patients can benefit from the addition of supportive psychosocial therapies to their medication regimens, conclude researchers.

Antipsychotic medication is the standard of care for schizophrenia, explain lead investigator Dr Thomas Patterson, from the University of California-San Diego in La Jolla, USA, and colleagues.

Despite medication, up to 60% of patients continue to experience symptoms and adherence to medication regimens is often poor, they say.

To address the potential effects of adjunctive psychosocial therapies, Dr Patterson and team evaluated studies of four primary strategies used effectively in schizophrenic patients.

Among those studied, family intervention therapy appeared to have the greatest impact on treatment adherence, and also led to reduced relapses and reductions in the number and length of re-admittance to hospital.

The other three strategies also played important roles in therapy. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy consistently reduced symptoms, especially during acute psychotic episodes and the early stages of schizophrenia.

Additionally, social skills training that focuses on vocational issues, such as obtaining employment or enhancing interview skills, improved overall daily functioning, reduced substance abuse and improved symptoms. These effects appeared to persist for up to 1 to 2 years. Further, cognitive remediation therapy consistently improved cognitive function, including attention and memory.

"Psychosocial therapy in support of medication therapy in patients with schizophrenia clearly enhances treatment outcomes across a broad range of domains," conclude the researchers in the journal Schizophrenia Research.

Since improved adherence to medications is a critical goal, family intervention therapy should be considered an essential addition in therapeutic strategies.