Remission – a New Tool for Assessment of Treatment Efficacy

Overview

The boom of psychopharmacs led to the development of rating scales. These scales made possible to define the treatment response and remission. The concept of remission has been applied in affective disorders for the first time and it starts to be used also in schizophrenic disorders nowadays. In schizophrenia a continuous long-term treatment with antipsychotics, good compliance and availability of psychosocial interventions are necessary conditions for achievement of remission. Remission in schizophrenia is becoming a new aim of treatment and a new tool for assessment of treatment efficacy. The remission criteria have been successfully applied in a 1-year study of long-acting risperidone injection (Consta). The results have shown that maintenance of remission was associated with further improvement of psychopathology and quality of life.

Key words:
psychopharmacs, rating scales, remission, psychopathology, quality life.