The review article presents the clinical and pathogenetic characteristics of the first episode of schizophrenia, describes the features of the therapeutic response and adherence to therapy in these patients. Nonadherence to medication in patients with early schizophrenia is one of the main causes leading to an adverse outcome, while the use of prolonged forms of antipsychotics can significantly increase patients' compliance and, accordingly, significantly affect the overall effectiveness of long>term anti>relapse therapy. The expediency of long>term anti>relapse antipsychotic therapy is substantiated, data on the use of injectable prolonged antipsychotics in the early stages of schizophrenia are presented.