Maintenance Treatment vs. Stepwise Drug Discontinuation in First-Episode Schizophrenia

Maintenance Treatment vs. Stepwise Drug Discontinuation After One Year of Maintenance Treatment in First-Episode Schizophrenia

After one year neuroleptic maintenance treatment in patients with first episode schizophrenia, neuroleptic treatment will be continued vs. stepwise discontinued (randomized design) over a period of 1 year. Under both conditions prodrome based early intervention take place.

After one year neuroleptic maintenance treatment in patients with first episode schizophrenia, neuroleptic treatment will be continued vs. stepwise discontinued (randomized design) over a period of 1 year. Under both conditions pharmacologic early intervention strategies in case of early sign of relapse will be applied.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients after 1 year of maintenance treatment after their first-episode in schizophrenia (according ICD-10 F20)
• Age between 18 and 55
• Informed consent
• One year neuroleptic maintenance treatment
• Reaching stable course

Exclusion Criteria:

• Residence outside of the catchment area
• Legal reasons
• Insufficient knowledge of the german language
• Substance abuse or addiction
• Pregnancy
• Serious physical illness
• Organic brain disease
• Contraindication to neuroleptic treatment