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Antipsychotic drugs, since its advent in the 1950s, have been the most effective medications to treat schizophrenia. When used, they reduce many of the mentally devastating symptoms such as hallucinations. Nowadays, physicians often give schizophrenic patients antipsychotic medications. Despite their efficacy in reducing the symptoms, antipsychotic drugs do not cure schizophrenia. Nevertheless, antipsychotic medications enable schizophrenic pattients to live outside the hospital.

Antipsychotic drugs reduce many of the symptoms of schizophrenia by blocking the action of dopamine, a neurotransmitter , on certain nerve cells. Although physicians have not yet identified the role of dopamine in schizophrenia, almost all antipsychotic drugs reduce the activity of dopamine in the nerve system.

There always has been a small number of patients who do not respond to any of the antipsychotic medications. Hence they must remain in hospital for other types of treatments. Go to psychological treatments for detail.

Psychotherapy and rehabilitation programs can help patients live independently. In the United States, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill offers help for schizophrenic patients and their families.