This guideline covers:

• initiation of treatment with antipsychotic medication and/or a
  psychological or psychosocial intervention
• the use of antipsychotic medication and/or a psychological or
  psychosocial intervention for the treatment of an acute psychotic
  episode
• the use of antipsychotic medication and/or a psychological or
  psychosocial intervention to promote recovery after an acute
  psychotic episode
• the assessment and management of the known side effects of
  antipsychotic medication (for example, diabetes)
• treatment options if antipsychotic medication or a psychological
  intervention is effective but not tolerated
• treatment options will also be informed by a review of the evidence on variation in response to antipsychotic medication between people with schizophrenia from different ethnic groups
• the use of early intervention services in the early treatment of
  people with schizophrenia (studies that include people with
  psychosis who are younger than 18 will not be excluded from the
  review)
• ways to improve access to mental health services for people from black and minority ethnic communities (this will include issues concerned with engagement with services)
• recommendations categorised as good practice points in the
  original guideline will be reviewed for their current relevance
  (including issues around consent and advance directives)
• advice on treatment options will be based on the best evidence
  available to the Guideline Development Group. The
  recommendations will be based on effectiveness, safety and costeffectiveness. Note that guideline recommendations for
  pharmacological interventions will normally fall within licensed
  indications; exceptionally, and only where clearly supported by
  evidence, use outside a licensed indication may be recommended. The guideline will assume that prescribers will use a drug's summary of product characteristics to support joint clinical decisionmaking between service users and prescribers.
  

This guideline does not cover:

• diagnosis
• primary prevention
• assessment
• management of schizophrenia in people with coexisting learning difficulties, significant physical or sensory difficulties, or significant substance misuse
• management of violence in people with schizophrenia
• the Guideline Development Group will take reasonable steps to
  identify ineffective interventions and approaches to care. If robust
  and credible recommendations for re-positioning the intervention
  for optimal use, or changing the approach to care to make more
  efficient use of resources, can be made, they will be clearly stated. If the resources released are substantial, consideration will be given to listing such recommendations in the ‘Key priorities for implementation’ section of the guideline

How to cite NICE mental health guidelines developed by the NCCMH