Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2009) 15: 218-220. doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.108.006353
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Minimal – no, minimise – yes

INVITED COMMENTARY ON ... MINIMAL-MEDICATION APPROACHES TO TREATING SCHIZOPHRENIA{dagger}

Larkin Feeney

Larkin Feeney is a consultant in adult psychiatry with the Cluain Mhuire Community Mental Health Service in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. His interests include suicide, the epidemiology of psychosis, the physical health of individuals diagnosed with mental illness, health informatics and medical education.

Correspondence: Correspondence Larkin Feeney, Cluain Mhuire Family Centre, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. E-mail: larkin. feeney{at}sjog.ie

This commentary questions evidence put forward in support of minimal-medication approaches to the treatment of schizophrenia. Psychiatrists should indeed seek to minimise the amount of medication that they use in order to reduce the incidence of side-effects. However, there is strong evidence that antipsychotic medications do help people with psychosis towards recovery. In practice, psychiatrists do not rigidly follow guidelines recommending medication, but rather work with and support individuals in a broad-based way to make informed choices about their mental healthcare.


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