title: Treatment outlines for the management of schizophrenia. The Quality Assurance Project.
abstract: The Quality Assurance Project is developing explicit and detailed treatment outlines for each of the major psychiatric disorders. Three sources of information are used: a meta-analysis of the treatment outcome literature, the opinions of a sample of practising psychiatrists, and the views of a panel of nominated experts. The present outlines report the resulting recommendations for the treatment of schizophrenia. The three sources of information agree that anti-psychotic drugs are the principal treatment during the active phase of the disorder. As schizophrenia is so often a serious and disabling chronic illness, the treatment recommendations stress the need for continuity of care during the post-acute and residual phases in order to prevent relapse and minimise residual deficits. The outlines particularly emphasise the consistent but conservative use of antipsychotic drugs, and the implementation of a specific type of family management program in addition to the customary social interventions.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003376:Counseling; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011570:Psychiatry; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents