Pharmacotherapy for treatment-refractory schizophrenia

Areas covered: This paper comprises a review of recent research in drug therapy for schizophrenia, particularly treatment-refractory schizophrenia, with a focus on research conducted between 2005 and June 2010. Databases that were searched include: Pubmed, CINAHL, Science Direct, Medline and Clinical Trials.gov. Primary search terms were ''treatment-refractory schizophrenia'' and ''treatment-resistant schizophrenia'', with cross reference to specific agents covered in this article. An objective perspective on current trends in pharmacotherapy for treatment-refractory schizophrenia. We review the available evidence and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published data in this field. Expert opinion: Although there have been many advances in pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia, more well-designed trials are required to establish true efficacy and safety of current prescribing trends in clinical practice.