Unmet Needs in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder that represents a challenge for all clinicians. Although treatment must address both positive and negative symptoms, several authors have reported the importance of managing unmet needs among patients with schizophrenia. Unmet needs in schizophrenia include difficulties at various clinical, psychosocial, relational, economic, and occupational levels. An important unmet need is represented by insight into the illness that is associated with treatment adherence and compliance with medical prescriptions.

Conclusion: In order to improve our understanding and management of schizophrenia, it is critically important to address the complexity of needs among patients with schizophrenia.

Keywords: Cognitive; emotional; psychiatric disorder; psychosocial; schizophrenia; symptoms.