An evidence-based strategy for remission in schizophrenia

Over the past 50 years, the therapeutic goal for schizophrenia has slowly but steadily increased, from one of modest improvement in self-care and control of aggression or self-injury in the 1950s, to effective control of both positive and negative symptoms in the 1990s. As physicians have become more equipped with a better tool kit of pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions, the pessimistic attitude toward long-term outcome has gradually given way to cautious and guarded optimism. Remission may even be considered a potentially realistic goal. This article briefly reviews the status of remission as a therapeutic goal in the treatment of schizophrenia and summarizes available treatment research reporting remission and recovery as clinical outcomes.