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Approach
In European Union approximately 5 million people (0.2-2.6%) suffer from psychotic disorders. The largest group is schizophrenic patients, and between 30-50% can be considered resistant to treatment. Standard intervention in patients with resistant schizophrenia is complex: presence of persistent positive symptomatology, extensive periods of hospital care, and greater risk of multi-morbidity. The full scope of this scenario generates a high degree of suffering for the patients, family and social environment, and high proportion of costs to the healthcare system.
To date, standard treatment is not enough to achieve remission in resistant schizophrenic patients. Therefore, an improved understanding of treatment refractory schizophrenia and the development of innovative evidence-based interventions adjunctive to pharmacological and psychosocial treatment are necessary.
Intervention strategies based on m-Health have demonstrated their ability to support and promote self-management-based strategies. In case of resistant schizophrenic patients, an intervention programme based on m-Health could offer a holistic approach to: i) integrate psychiatric and psychological assistance with other medical health-carers; ii) better monitor patients with resistant schizophrenia through a personalised and optimised therapeutic process; iii) promote acceptance and self-management of disease and comorbidities; and iv) potentiate involvement of patients and their caregivers in therapeutic process.