Challenges in Understanding and Management of Relapse in Schizophrenia

Relapse is an ongoing challenge in schizophrenia (SZ) despite effective antipsychotic and psychosocial interventions; relapse remains common. Rates of relapse in SZ remain high, with the most significant contributing factor being non-adherence to antipsychotic medications. Relapse is known to be associated with a number of negative outcomes, including an increased risk of subsequent relapses. Thus, relapse is a common and ongoing issue in SZ. Despite the prominence of issues pertaining to relapse in SZ, the concept of relapse still exhibits foundational challenges. At the foundational level, there are several issues with the construct of relapse. Specifically, despite the term relapse being commonly used within the context of SZ, there remains a lack of definitional and conceptual clarity. Thus, this article reviews key rudimentary challenges relating to relapse in SZ. Namely, conceptions of relapse over time, the effects of relapse in SZ, and lastly, the prevention of relapse in SZ. From the review, it is evident that relapse in SZ requires common consensual theoretical, operational, and clinical definitions.