Evaluate the efficacy of conventional (typical) antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia in terms of time course, percentage of patients improving, and types of symptoms most likely to show improvement

What will be an ideal response?

Generally several days of drug exposure is necessary for the core symptoms of schizophrenia to subside, with the most pronounced effects occurring within the first 6 weeks of exposure and a leveling off at around 12 weeks. Approximately 70% of schizophrenics will show some benefits, but some symptoms may still persist in many of these, and some will exhibit a recurrence of symptoms even with continued use. The most prominent symptoms that are reduced are those categorized as positive symptoms, e.g., hallucinations, delusions, belligerence, disturbed thought processes. Efficacy in reducing negative symptoms is modest at best, and there is little improvement in general cognitive functioning.