Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: Terminology and Clinical Features / 대한정신분열병학회지

ABSTRACT

Schizophrenia is one of serious mental illnesses and is often described as a heterogeneous disorder. Approximately one-third of schizophrenia cases are treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). The aim of this study was to review the definitions and clinical features of TRS. Though it was found that the criteria for TRS were considerably diverse, the Treatment Response and Resistance in Psychosis (TRRIP) consensus criteria were recently introduced. According to the TRRIP criteria, TRS should be suspected if symptoms persist alongside psychotic symptoms despite sufficient treatment for ≥12 weeks, or two or more symptoms persist significantly for ≥6 weeks. The clinical characteristics of TRS includes an earlier age of onset, more severe and familial form, possibly more rural residence, unlikely association with male sex, and an increase in cognitive deficits.