Improving treatment for persons with schizophrenia.

The time has come for the development of standards to ensure quality and cost-effective care for the treatment of persons with schizophrenia. Advances in understanding the efficacy of treatments for schizophrenia, the promise of new treatment advances derived from a rapidly evolving neuroscience, pressures to contain health care costs while maintaining or increasing quality, and the growth of advocacy on behalf of persons with schizophrenia are driving this need. The evidence for the efficacy of pharmacotherapies, psychological interventions, family interventions, vocational rehabilitation, and case management and assertive community treatment is substantial, yet many patients do not receive treatments consistent with this evidence. Service systems must do much more to ensure that efficacious treatments are available, that both effectiveness and costs are considered in the allocation of resources, and that evaluative systems are in place to promote on-going quality improvement to provide the best care.