Experience with the treatment of first episode of schizophrenia: functional outcome

The treatment of patients with first episode psychosis poses a challenge to the clinician, as this is the most important period for secondary prevention. In addition to management of disease symptoms, pharmacological interventions in first episode psychosis must also be clinically effective to provide the best possible outcome in terms of well-being, functioning, and disease burden. Six outcome domains should be considered: disease symptoms, tolerability, everyday functioning, subjective well-being, family/career burden, and treatment adherence. Data from our first episode clinic will be presented with a special focus on pharmacologic treatment issues. Results from our own studies on the use of different second generation antipsychotics in this population will be discussed. The Spanish early onset psychosis network will be also presented.