title: Managing schizophrenia in primary care: the utility of remission criteria as outcome indicators.
abstract: The shared management of patients with schizophrenia in primary care can only succeed if underpinned by valid, easily administered and clinically relevant outcome measures. While conditions such as depression and anxiety lend themselves to this approach through the development, over a number of years, of patient- and observer-rated scales, schizophrenia still lacks the capacity for meaningful outcome measures. Recently, two international working groups have developed the concept of remission in schizophrenia and recommended a simple, brief and clinically valid measure based upon improvement in key symptoms over a specified time period. The authors consider this concept and its application to primary care both as a commissioning tool and to facilitate shared care of this chronic medical condition.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Gether Foundation NHS Trust, Gloucester, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fear
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yeomans
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hynes
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whale
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burns