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Treatment–Refractory Schizophrenia pp 31–43Cite as

Dopamine and the Biology and Course of Treatment Resistance

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Abstract

The onset and course of schizophrenia, like many complex conditions, is influenced both by biological and psychosocial factors. The biological precursors of non-response to treatment in schizophrenia are as yet unknown, but for example, emerging functional imagining work suggests that there may be underlying differences in neurotransmitter patterns in people who have not responded to standard treatment compared to those who do. Long term epidemiological follow up studies may also give clues as to where to direct resources for best outcomes. This chapter will address both the biological and epidemiological associations of poor outcome and response to treatment in schizophrenia, preparing the ground for secondary preventative work in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, SE5 8AF, London, UK

    Arsime Demjaha

  2. MRC Clinical Sciences Centre (Imperial Hammersmith Campus) and Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, SE5 8AF, London, UK

    Oliver D. Howes

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  1. Arsime Demjaha
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  2. Oliver D. Howes
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Correspondence to Arsime Demjaha .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical College of Georgia Dean’s Office, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, USA

    Peter F. Buckley

  2. Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, National Psychosis Unit, London, United Kingdom

    Fiona Gaughran

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Demjaha, A., Howes, O.D. (2014). Dopamine and the Biology and Course of Treatment Resistance. In: Buckley, P., Gaughran, F. (eds) Treatment–Refractory Schizophrenia. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45257-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45257-4_3

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