Summary of NICE Guidance for First-Episode Schizophrenia
> A complete assessment is mandatory before starting treatment
For
people with first-episode psychosis offer:
●
oral antipsychotic
medication with
● psychological interventions (family intervention and individual CBT.)
Advise
people who want to try psychological interventions alone that these therapies are more
effective when delivered with antipsychotic medication.
If the person still wants to try psychological interventions alone:
- offer family intervention and CBT
- agree a time (1 month or less) to review treatment options, including introducing antipsychotic medication
- continue to monitor symptoms, distress, impairment, and level of functioning (including education, training, and employment) regularly.
It is also mandatory to assess and monitor the physical health of the patients before commencing antipsychotics and during treatment.
Especially
- Weight, BMI
- Blood pressure and pulse
- Serum lipids
- Motor system and EPSEs
- Blood glucose testing
And
other baseline investigations