25 million people are living with schizophrenia in low and middle income countries and over two-thirds of them are not receiving any treatment.

Dr Vikram Patel discusses the crucial role that community health workers can play. Dr Saaed Farooq argues that the huge burden of untreated schizophrenia could be tackled by providing free antipsychotic medications and supervising patients while they take their treatment (akin to the way in which patients with TB are supervised when they take their antituberculous medications). Dr R Thara discusses the crucial importance of tackling the stigma of schizophrenia by offering proven therapies.

Citation: Patel V, Farooq S, Thara R (2007) What is the best approach to treating schizophrenia in developing countries? PLoS Med 4(6): e159.