This chapter is framed by four perspectives. The first views schizophrenia as a heterogeneous disorder that may present itself very differently across individuals. Heterogeneity has important implications for treatment approaches: for treatments to be optimally effective, they need to be tailored to the individual. The second perspective integrates what are often considered separate and divergent approaches to treatment in schizophrenia, bringing together, in both complementary and synergistic combination, the biological and the psychosocial. Within this perspective, clinical treatment models capable of being personalized to heterogeneous, individual profiles are proposed. The third perspective is a practical one that examines how the two extreme ends of the treatment continuum, treatment development and service delivery, can be optimized to ensure enhanced outcomes for people with schizophrenia. Finally, treatment is viewed from the perspective of the whole person. This not only has implications for mental and physical well-being and quality of life in people with schizophrenia, but also takes into consideration the social context in which these individuals are placed. Overall, the approach offered, with its integration across multiple domains, emphasizes the potential for improved recovery rates and hope for prevention and cure in this devastating disorder.
© Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies.