Schizophrenia is generally divided into three phases in the treatment process: the first phase, the acute phase of treatment, which is the time it takes to bring the obvious symptoms of schizophrenia under effective control, takes about three months. The second phase, the consolidation phase, in which the psychotic symptoms are effectively controlled and the patient is prompted to resume social functioning, takes about six to nine months. The third stage, recovery or maintenance, is to enable the schizophrenic patient to participate in the social production and work process and to keep the condition stable. Because of the complexity of schizophrenia, the duration of treatment is not entirely certain. Some experts suggest that it may last at least 1-2 years, while others point out that it may take 2-5 years, depending on the changes in the patient’s condition, maintenance medications, and the stability of the condition.