Integrative Management of Schizophrenia: Key Findings and Recommendations

Summary:Slide 1. Integrative Management of Schizophrenia: Key Findings and Recommendations**Slide 2. Although there is limited evidence for mind-body approaches in schizophrenia, these approaches may improve overall quality of life without associated risks, and may be safely used in conjunction with antipsychotics. Thus, it is reasonable to recommend mind-body approaches on a case-by-case basis depending on the patient’s level of functioning and motivation. However, large controlled studies are still needed to confirm these preliminary findings before mind-body approaches can be generally recommended as mainstream treatments for persons diagnosed with schizophrenia.**Slide 3. Omega-3s alone or in combination with antipsychotics may improve auditory hallucinations, paranoia, and confused thinking and lessen adverse effects of antipsychotics; ethyl-EPA may be more effective than other ω-3 fatty acids**Slide 4. EPA augmentation may be an effective preventive strategy in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia or in the early phase of psychotic illness but not as a treatment for established schizophrenia**Slide 5. Vitamin E may slow the rate of deterioration of tardive dyskinesia (TD), but vitamin E supplementation will likely not improve symptoms of TD once it is established**Slide 6. Estrogen may be an effective adjuvant in schizophrenia treatment when combined with antipsychotics**Slide 7. DHEA may be an effective adjuvant in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and may be especially beneficial for improving “negative” symptoms of apathy and social withdrawal**Slide 8. Ginkgo biloba may be an effective adjuvant when taken with antipsychotics; however, more research is needed to confirm its beneficial effects and determine the most appropriate. Ginkgo bilobamay also reduce the risk of movement disorders and other adverse effects of antipsychotics**Slide 9. Glycine (60 g/d) may be effective adjuvant when combined with antipsychotics and may be especially effective for negative symptoms such as apathy and social withdrawal; however, more studies are needed**Slide 10. Select mind-body approaches including music therapy, meditation, and mindfulness techniques may lessen symptom severity and improve global functioning in schizophrenia**Slide 11. Slideshow based on the "Integrative Management of Schizophrenia," by James Lake, MD.