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A person has treatment-resistant schizophrenia if they try two or more schizophrenia drugs at the right dose and do not see any improvement in symptoms. Treatment-resistant schizophrenia may still improve with different treatments, but these improvements can take time and experimentation. A 2020 study estimates that 34% of people with schizophrenia have treatment-resistant schizophrenia. A person with treatment-resistant schizophrenia may need different medications and other treatments, such as the support of a social worker and psychotherapy. Read on to learn more about treatment-resistant schizophrenia, including the causes, symptoms, treatment methods, and more. What is it Share on PinterestHenrik Sorensen/Getty ImagesTreatment-resistant schizophrenia is schizophrenia that does not respond well to first-line schizophrenia medications. Most symptoms of this condition continue to persist on medication, and in some cases, they can even worsen. To qualify for the diagnosis, a person must have undergone 12 weeks of schizophrenia treatment, taking at least 2 medications for at least 6 weeks, without improvement. They must take the medication at the right dosage and as a doctor recommends. However, an individual who does not take their medication or only occasionally takes it does not have treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Instead, they are not taking the treatment as a doctor has prescribed. About a third of people with schizophrenia show little improvement with treatment, while 7% show no improvement at all. Causes Treatment-resistant schizophrenia is common, affecting about a third of people with schizophrenia. However, researchers do not know what causes it or how to predict who will respond to treatment. Several neurotransmitters play a role in schizophrenia. Dopamine, which supports reward and motivation, may be especially important. Some evidence suggests that dopamine is overactive in people with schizophrenia. Some potential explanations for why some individuals develop treatment-resistant schizophrenia include: Neuroinflammation: Some researchers believe that neuroinflammation, which involves inflammation in the brain and nervous system, contributes to the development of schizophrenia. They also think certain types of neuroinflammation make treatment-resistant schizophrenia more likely. Schizophrenia subtype: Some researchers believe that treatment-resistant schizophrenia is a schizophrenia subtype, with a different disease course. Some researchers believe that this form of the condition occurs because of a dysfunction of the neurotransmitters glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, making dopamine more active in the brain. Dopamine sensitivity: Another theory suggests dopamine is critical. In this understanding, medication that acts on dopamine receptors changes how the brain responds to dopamine, making medication less effective. Symptoms Doctors typically divide schizophrenia into positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms mean that a person has unusual thoughts or behaviors, including: delusions, or false beliefs hallucinations, or false sensory experiencesthought disorders atypical thinking or behavior Negative symptoms refer to the absence of typical behavior and include symptoms such as: low motivationdepression and difficulty feeling pleasure speech issues People with treatment-resistant schizophrenia continue to experience positive symptoms despite treatment. They may also experience negative symptoms, though this is unnecessary for a diagnosis. Learn more about the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Learn more about the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Diagnosis Doctors diagnose schizophrenia according to a person’s symptoms. To qualify for a diagnosis, someone must have at least two of the following symptoms for more than 6 months: hallucinationsdelusionsdisorganized or chaotic speech catatonic behavior, which means slow or “frozen” movement, or disorganized behavior negative symptoms such as low motivation and the inability to feel pleasure To diagnose treatment-resistant schizophrenia, a person must have tried at least two antipsychotic schizophrenia medications, at the typical dose, for at least 6 weeks. They must have had little or no improvement in positive symptoms. This means that it takes at least 12 weeks following a schizophrenia diagnosis to diagnose someone with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Treatment The first-line treatment option for treatment-resistant schizophrenia is clozapine. Some other treatment options include: higher doses of schizophrenia medicationscombining multiple schizophrenia medicationsbrain stimulation therapies such as:electroconvulsive therapydeep brain stimulationtranscranial magnetic stimulationpsychotherapy A person may also need various forms of social support, such as family therapy, the services of a social worker to connect to resources, and accommodations at work or school. However, schizophrenia medications often cause significant side effects. For this reason, a person may need support to manage these side effects or occasionally change their treatment. When to contact a doctor Schizophrenia causes a person to believe things that are not true or sense things that are not there. Consequently, it may be difficult for them to realize they have the condition or that it does not respond to treatment. Aside from the typical schizophrenia symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, some signs that treatment may not be working include: A person feels anxious or upset about things others do not believe or see. Friends or loved ones continue to express concern about a person’s emotions or behavior. A person feels that their life has not improved with medication. An individual feels like they think or live very differently from others. Additionally, a person may benefit from extra support if: the side effects of medications are intense or feel intolerablethey have difficulties remembering to take their medicationthey feel that treatment has stopped working Outlook Managing treatment-resistant schizophrenia is difficult, and a person may continue to experience issues with treatment. A 2022 study of 63 people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia found that 25% responded to clozapine, the first-line treatment. Certain factors correlated with a higher likelihood of treatment response, including: better social functioning in childhood and adolescence before diagnosis having the paranoid subtype of schizophrenianot waiting longer than 7 years to try clozapinetrying at least one atypical antipsychotic schizophrenia drug Additionally, demographic and biological factors did not predict treatment response. Summary Treatment-resistant schizophrenia can cause challenges, especially when the condition disrupts a person’s life and relationships. However, resistance to treatment does not mean that schizophrenia is totally untreatable. With the right treatment provider and drug dosage, a person may experience significant relief. Other interventions can also help. Psychotherapy can help a person better manage schizophrenia symptoms and learn to advocate for themselves and live with their diagnosis. Brain stimulation therapies, such as electroconvulsive therapy, may help “reset” the brain, easing schizophrenia symptoms over the long term. People with the condition also need to work with a knowledgeable treatment team, which includes a psychiatrist. Last medically reviewed on May 23, 2022Mental HealthSchizophreniaNeurology / NeurosciencePsychology / Psychiatry 5 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Aissa, A., et al. (2022). Clinical predictors of response to clozapine in Tunisian patients with treatment resistant schizophrenia [Abstract]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X21000584Hany, M., et al. (2021). Schizophrenia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539864/Kane, J. M., et al. (2019). Clinical guidance on the identification and management of treatment resistant schizophrenia [Abstract]. https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/psychiatry/clinical-guidance-on-treatment-resistant-schizophrenia/Nucifora, Jr., F. C., et al. (2018). Treatment resistant schizophrenia: Clinical, biological, and therapeutic perspectives [Abstract]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30170114/Potkin, S. G., et al. (2020). The neurobiology of treatment-resistant schizophrenia: Paths to antipsychotic resistance and a roadmap for future research.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41537-019-0090-zFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Jeffrey Ditzell, DO — By Zawn Villines on May 23, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageUnderstanding the symptoms of schizophreniaMedically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH Schizophrenia is a severe mental health condition that can cause confused speech, delusions, and social withdrawal. Treatment is available. Learn more…READ MOREWhat is catatonic schizophrenia?Medically reviewed by Timothy J. 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