Summary Australian and New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Schizophrenia 2003

Abstract

Objective: To provide a summary of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Schizophrenia. Conclusions: Schizophrenia is a complex and misunderstood illness with a poor public image, but it is more treatable than ever before. A new generation of medication and psychosocial therapies, combined with a first generation of service reform, have created an evidence-based climate of realistic optimism. However, the potential for better outcomes and quality of life for people with schizophrenia has not been translated into reality. The gap between efficacy and effectiveness is wider for schizophrenia than for any other serious medical disorder. These guidelines distil the current evidence and make recommendations based on the best available knowledge. They are based on systematic meta-analyses and comprehensive reviews of the evidence, and their validity is supported by their congruence with several recent rigorous and independent guideline statements from the UK and North America.