Re:

10/20/15

To the editor:

New approach advised to treat schizophrenia (NYT 10/20/15) highlights the value of combining talk therapy and medication for patients with first episode psychotic illness.  But, as the article points out, this is not a new approach; nor is it a discovery as much as it is a rediscovery.  Similar programs have been in place in other countries for decades.  In most simplistic terms, the distinction is between treating the patient as a person having an illness as opposed to being the illness.  The former approach is compassionate and humanizing while helping patients manage reality - the core problem in psychosis - while minimizing the serious side effects of anti-psychotics. The latter approach leads to massive non-adherence as the article points out.

The finding is important because it highlights, for better or worse, the place of evidence based medicine in shaping the standard of care. On a practical level it is reassuring that the authors found that such care is within reach of this most vulnerable population.

Respectfully,

Larry S. Sandberg