NICE guide on schizophrenia

Mental Health Nursing,  Jan 2003  

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Care across all stages, early intervention and treatment of acute episodes are included in the best practice guidelines for treating schizophrenia, recently released by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence

This is NICE'S first fully commissioned clinical guideline, on the appropriate treatment and care of individuals with schizophrenia within the NHS in England and Wales.

The new guideline, Schizophrenia: Core interventions in the treatment and management of schizophrenia in primary and secondary care, outlines best practice for health professionals caring for individuals with schizophrenia in a range of areas, including:

* Care across all stages (for example, the importance of working in partnership with service users and carers, and offering treatment in an atmosphere of hope and optimism)

* Initiation of treatment (for example, the development of early intervention services to provide appropriate care for people with suspected or newly diagnosed schizophrenia)

* Treatment of acute episodes (for example, the use of antipsychotic drugs as part of a comprehensive package of care that addresses the individual's clinical, emotional and social needs)

* Promoting recovery (for example, the use of psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy to prevent relapse and reduce symptoms)

* Rapid tranquillisation (for example, minimising factors that might increase need for rapid tranquillisation and outlining the principles health professionals should follow)

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Jan 2003
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