How Can Psychotic Disorders Be Prevented and Treated?

Dear Colleagues,

Schizophrenia is a serious and devastating mental health disorder that affects 1% of our population. While the prevalence rate of schizophrenia remains constant, conversion rates seem to be increasing from substance-induced psychosis. Furthermore, the complex interplay of behaviour, the environment and genetics needs greater consideration. Antipsychotic medication is the mainstay for the treatment of psychosis. Beyond second-generation antipsychotics, dopamine-modulating medications such as aripiprazole, brexpiprazole and cariprazine are efficacious and may be more tolerable. More recently, novel compounds that target trace-associated amine receptor 1, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes and Gly-T1 inhibitors show promise for negative and cognitive symptoms that often persist, in spite of positive symptom management. The question remains: can psychosis be prevented? Preclinical research is now evaluating whether the brain mechanisms associated with psychosis onset can be disrupted. Moreover, studying people with attenuated psychosis syndrome may help translate these findings and possibly prevent later conversion to schizophrenia. The aim of this Special Issue is to examine how psychotic disorders may be prevented and treated across different treatment settings. New research papers, case study reports, expert opinions and reviews are invited for submission to this Special Issue.

Dr. Mera S. Barr
Guest Editor

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• psychosis
• psychotic disorders
• stimulant-induced psychosis
• clinical high risk
• schizophrenia
• antipsychotic medication
• prevention
• intervention
• maintenance