APA Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia Guideline Summary - Guideline Central
Recommendations
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Document Overview

Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia

American Psychiatric Association


Publication Date: Aug 31, 2020

Page Last Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Grading Recommendations

 Grade Description
1 Recommendation: indicates confidence that the benefits of the intervention clearly outweigh harms.
2 Suggestion: indicates greater uncertainty: although the benefits of the statement are still viewed as outweighing the harms, balance of benefits and harms is more difficult to judge, or the benefits or the harms may be less clear. With a suggestion, patient values and preferences may be more variable, and this can influence the clinical decision that is ultimately made.
 Grade Strength of Evidence
A High: high confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect. Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.
B Moderate: moderate confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect. Further research may change our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.
C Low: low confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect. Further research is likely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.

Document Overview

Document Title
Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia
Authoring Society

American Psychiatric Association

Document Publication Date
Aug 31, 2020
Page Last Reviewed/Updated
Feb 12, 2026
Document Type
Guideline
Country of Publication
United States
Full Text Freely Available
Yes
Full Text Guideline
ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.177901
Source Citation

American Psychiatric Association: Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia, 3rd Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Publishing, 2021

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives

The goal of this guideline is to improve the quality of care and treatment outcomes for patients with schizophrenia, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Since publication of the last full practice guideline (American Psychiatric Association 2004) and guideline watch (American Psychiatric Association 2009) on schizophrenia, there have been many studies on new pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments for schizophrenia. Additional research has expanded our knowledge of previously available treatments. The guideline focuses specifically on evidence-based pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments for schizophrenia but also includes statements related to assessment and treatment planning that are an integral part of patient-centered care.

Scope
Management, Treatment
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D000071057 - Tardive Dyskinesia

D012559 - Schizophrenia

D014150 - Antipsychotic Agents

Keywords
antipsychotics, schizophrenia, tardive dyskinesia
Target Patient Population
Patients With Schizophrenia
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Correctional Facility, Emergency Care, Hospital, Long Term Care
Intended Users
Counselor, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant, Psychologist

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Number of Source Documents
1,204
Includes peer/external review process?
Yes
Includes public comment process?
No
Methodologist involvement?
Yes
Patient involvement?
No
Includes multi-disciplinary group?
Yes
Includes systematic review?
Yes
Grades quality of strength of evidence?
Yes
Grades quality of strength of recommendation?
Yes
Discloses funding source?
Yes
Discloses conflicts of interest?
Yes
Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?
Yes
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