STANDARDS OF CARE AND CLINICAL ALGORITHMS FOR TREATING SCHIZOPHRENIA

Health care changes and improved understanding of the course and manag ement of schizophrenia have provided the propitious environment to dev elop guidelines for treating patients with schizophrenia. This article describes two recent guidelines and highlights how these may be used to enhance clinical practice. Although still at a nascent stage that i s awaiting more widespread acceptance by clinicians, the introduction of guidelines represent a significant advance in mental health care.