| Abstract: | The difficulties for the short-stay doctor of managing the drug treatment of long-stay schizophrenic patients are discussed. Some principles to follow are suggested. The results of following these principles for 7 years are analysed. Only 74 out of a population of 475 chronic schizophrenics had been considered suitable for trial without drugs. Only five of these still remained off drugs. The relapses of the other 69 patients occurred after an average of about 4 1/2 months. Possible reasons for the widely different results of drug withdrawl trials are suggested. |
