Integrating treatments in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a common and severe illness found throughout the world. Onset is usually in adolescence and young adulthood, and many individuals have illness-related impairments for life. Schizophrenia assaults the very essence of what is distinctly human. The personality is devastated, subjective experience and thought distorted, and the psychological building blocks of everyday life torn asunder. This article discusses diagnostic and conceptual considerations, pharmacotherapy, and interpersonal strategies of integrating therapeutics for schizophrenics.