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Key message: Treatment outcomes can be optimised for an individual by skilful utilisation and coordination of pharmacological, psychosocial, and educational resources.
Background
A clinically effective treatment is characterised by:[Tandon et al., 2006]
- long-term reduction in symptoms of disease, treatment burden (adverse events), and impact of the disease on the patient and members of his or her social circle
- sustained adherence by the patient to the prescribed treatment regimen
- long-term increase in healthy behaviours and restoration of wellness
Skillful utilisation and coordination of available pharmacological, psychosocial, and educational resources targeted to each patient’s personal situation, goals, and current phase of illness can ultimately maximise clinical effectiveness across all four of the outcome domains (symptoms of disease, treatment burden, disease burden, and overall health and wellness).[Tandon et al., 2006]
A recovery orientation, along with a culture of setting specific treatment goals, selecting treatments with a larger evidence base, and monitoring the individual patient’s response to treatment in a reliable and explicit manner serve to minimise disease burden (while adding minimal treatment burden) in order to maximise the health and wellness of the individual patient.[Tandon et al., 2006]
Reference:
Tandon R, Targum SD, Nasrallah HA, et al. Strategies for maximizing clinical effectiveness in the treatment of schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Pract 2006; 12 (6): 348–363.