Guideline vs Usual Treatment in Schizophrenic Adolescents

The drug treatment of patients on the Guideline Treatment group followed an algorithm, where an atypical antipsychotic must be maintained during 6 weeks before the evaluation of medication change if the PANSS score did not show a reduction of 30% and the patients did not show functional improvement. Clozapine could be administered if two trials of antipsychotics were not effective. Benzodiazepines, antidepressants, anticholinergics or anticonvulsants were allowed for the treatment of comorbid disorders or side effects.

The psychosocial treatment included psychoeducation (three 90 min sessions with the family and two 45 min sessions with the patients), followed by a seven 45 min sessions training on social skills which focused on verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as in conversation skills. Patients were also trained in healthy life style habits and were included on a 30 min of exercise in group.

TAU included an antipsychotic and the psychosocial treatment decided by the clinician

Inclusion criteria

• Total score ≥ 70 on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and a score of at least 4 (moderate) on 3 of the follow core items (conceptual disorganization , hallucinatory behavior, suspiciousness, and unusual thought content).
• Patients were required to have a score of ≥ 4 symptoms on the Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (CGI-S)
• Had not received antipsychotic in proper doses/ a regular antipsychotic treatment for at least 4 weeks previous enrollment.

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable medical conditions
• Their diagnosis changed during the study
• Had a history of substance dependence or substance use (except cannabis), -Females with pregnancy
• Refusal to practice contraception during the study.