When Do Psychiatric Interventions Work?

doi:10.1017/9781009587747.010

Chapter 9 - When Do Psychiatric Interventions Work?

An Argument for Using Functional Outcomes When Evaluating the Effectiveness of Treating Schizophrenia

from Part I - Neuroscience

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 April 2026

Sean E. Evans

Edited by

Katherine Warburton and

Stephen M. Stahl

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Katherine Warburton: Affiliation:
California Department of State Hospitals, University of California, Davis, USA
Stephen M. Stahl: Affiliation:
University of California, Riverside, USA

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Summary

Schizophrenia is known to be a disabling psychiatric condition with wide reaching impact on everyday functioning and outcomes. These functional outcomes include increases in all-cause mortality (especially suicide and injury), cognitive and functional capacity deficits, lower reported levels of quality of life, increased incarceration, higher risk for violence and victimization, and homelessness. Studies have shown that medications and outpatient services can improve each of these functional outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia. However, most studies of pharmacological treatment utilize rating scales which do not reflect the real-world outcomes. This review looks at available studies focused on real-world outcomes and argues for an expansion of this body of research.

Keywords

Schizophrenia functional outcomes mortality cognition violence victimization

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Ethical and Clinical Complexities in the Treatment of Schizophrenia
Liberty or Life
, pp. 79 - 84

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009587747.010 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2026

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