Introduction — This topic includes links to society and government-sponsored guidelines from selected countries and regions around the world. We will update these links periodically; newer versions of some guidelines may be available on each society's website. Some societies may require users to log in to access their guidelines.
The recommendations in the following guidelines may vary from those that appear in UpToDate topic reviews. Readers who are looking for UpToDate topic reviews should use the UpToDate search box to find the relevant content.
International
●World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP): A consensus paper on the genetics of schizophrenia (2017)
●WFSBP: Consensus paper on criteria for biomarkers and endophenotypes of schizophrenia, part III – Molecular mechanisms (2017)
●WFSBP: Consensus paper on criteria for biomarkers and endophenotypes of schizophrenia, part II ─ Cognition, neuroimaging, and genetics (2016)
●WFSBP: Consensus paper on criteria for biomarkers and endophenotypes of schizophrenia, part I – Neurophysiology (2015)
●WFSBP: Guidelines for biological treatment of schizophrenia, part 3 – Management of special circumstances: Depression, suicidality, substance use disorders and pregnancy and lactation, update (2015)
●WFSBP: Guidelines for biological treatment of schizophrenia, part 2 – The long-term treatment of schizophrenia and management of antipsychotic-induced side effects, 2012 update (published 2013)
●WFSBP: Guidelines for biological treatment of schizophrenia, part 1 – The acute treatment of schizophrenia and the management of treatment resistance, update (2012)
Canada
●Canadian schizophrenia guidelines (2017)
•Canadian guidelines for the assessment and diagnosis of patients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
•Canadian guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders in children and youth
•Canadian practice guidelines for comprehensive community treatment for schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders
•Canadian treatment guidelines for individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis
•Canadian treatment guidelines on psychosocial treatment of schizophrenia in adults
•Canadian treatment guidelines on psychosocial treatment of schizophrenia in children and youth
•Guidelines for the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia in adults
•Physical health and drug safety in individuals with schizophrenia
•Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders with coexisting substance use disorders
●Choosing Wisely Canada: Don't routinely order brain neuroimaging (CT or MRI) in first episode psychoses in the absence of signs or symptoms suggestive of intracranial pathology (2017)
●Choosing Wisely Canada: Don't routinely prescribe high-dose or combination antipsychotic treatment strategies in the treatment of schizophrenia (2017)
United States
●American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Clinical practice guideline for treatment and management of mental health conditions during pregnancy and postpartum (2023)
●ACOG: Clinical practice guideline on screening and diagnosis of mental health conditions during pregnancy and postpartum (2023)
●American Psychiatric Association (APA): Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia, third edition (2020)
●American College of Radiology (ACR): ACR Appropriateness Criteria on acute mental status change, delirium, and new onset psychosis (2018)
●APA: Practice guideline on the use of antipsychotics to treat agitation or psychosis in patients with dementia (2016)
●American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP): Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with schizophrenia (2013)
United Kingdom
●National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): Guideline on rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis (2020)
●British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP): Evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia – Updated recommendations (2019)
●BAP: Consensus guidance on the use of psychotropic medication preconception, in pregnancy and postpartum (2017)
●BAP: Guidelines on the management of weight gain, metabolic disturbances, and cardiovascular risk associated with psychosis and antipsychotic drug treatment (2016)
●Choosing Wisely UK: RCPsych – When a diagnosis of psychosis is made, CT or MRI head scans should only be used for specific indications where there are signs or symptoms suggestive of neurological problems (ARCHIVED; 2016)
●Choosing Wisely UK: RCPysch – When adults with schizophrenia are introduced to treatment with long-term anti-psychotic medication, the benefits and harm of taking oral medication compared to long-acting depot injections should be discussed with all relevant parties (ARCHIVED; 2016)
●NICE: Clinical guideline on psychosis and schizophrenia in children and young people – Recognition and management (2013, updated 2016)
●NICE: Quality standard on bipolar disorder, psychosis, and schizophrenia in children and young people (2015)
●NICE: Quality standard on psychosis and schizophrenia in adults (2015)
●NICE: Clinical guideline on psychosis and schizophrenia in adults – Prevention and management (2014)
●Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN): A national clinical guideline for the management of schizophrenia (2013)
●NICE: Clinical guideline on coexisting severe mental illness (psychosis) and substance misuse – Assessment and management in healthcare settings (2011)
Australia–New Zealand
●Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP): Clinical practice guidelines for the management of schizophrenia and related disorders (2016)
Japan
●[In Japanese] Japan Society of Neuropsychopharmacology (JSNP): Schizophrenia pharmacotherapy guidelines (2015, revised 2017)
