There are numerous practice guidelines available for schizophrenia and early course psychosis. Many cover topics around medications, such as when clozapine can be most helpful for example, and offer advice around sleep, exercise, and other healthy habits to stay well. While no practice guidelines are a substitute for the clinical judgement and decision making of your clinician, they can offer useful information and serve as a good reference. It is important to note that your treatment may often not be the same as recommended in a guideline for several reasons including the fact that many guidelines are not updated to reflect the newest evidence, the need to personalize your care to your unique needs, and the clinical experience of your clinician. You can read several guidelines that CSS-SMI has assembled including ones from a commercial insure, a review of those from the American Psychiatric Association (APA), two from the Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) and two from Canada. Of note, these are offered as references and we do not endorse any one guideline, but instead recommend you discuss your personal treatment with your clinical team.
U.S. Guidelines
Introduction to Magellan’s Adopted Clinical Practice Guidelines For the Treatment of Schizophrenia (Magellan Healthcare, published 2017)
Guideline Watch: Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia (APA, published 2009)
The 2009 Schizophrenia PORT Psychosocial Treatment Recommendations and Summary Statements (Schizophrenia Bulletin, published 2009)
The 2009 Schizophrenia PORT Psychosocial Treatment Recommendations and Summary Statements (Schizophrenia Bulletin, published 2009)
International Guidelines
Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: prevention and management (NICE, published 2014)
Implementing the Early Intervention in Psychosis Access and Waiting Time Standard: Guidance (NHS England, the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health
and the NICE, published 2014)
Sign 131 Management of schizophrenia – A national clinical guideline (Healthcare Improvement Scotland, published 2013)
Canadian Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders (Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, published 2017)
Canadian Practice Guidelines for Comprehensive Community Treatment for Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, published 2017)