ABSTRACT
The efficacy of antipsychotic drugs in short-term anti maintenance treatm ent of schizophrenia has been well established in numerous double-blind placebo controlled trials over the past 30 years.1-2 However, despite the considerable magnitude of the medication effect in this condition, most controlled trials continue to find a subgroup of 10% to 20% of patients who derive little benefit from typical neuroleptic drug therapy.1 The treatm ent of this
&ch Gen Psychiatry-Vol 45, Sept 1988
refractory subgroup remains a major public health prob lem-these individuals require more intensive care and are subject to the persisten t disabilities associated with chronic schizophrenia. In addition, the continued presence of psychotic signs and symptoms makes these patients less available to psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation.
