The British Journal of Psychiatry 149: 357-364 (1986)
© 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
A survey of practising psychiatrists' views on the treatment of schizophrenia
S Andrews, K Vaughan, R Harvey and G Andrews
Practicing psychiatrists' views about the treatment of schizophrenia were
investigated as part of a Quality Assurance Project. A questionnaire which
asked for treatment recommendations for each of four case descriptions of
patients with schizophrenia was mailed to a one-in-six random sample of
Australian psychiatrists; 90% responded. Psychiatrists almost uniformly
advocated the use of antipsychotic drugs and usually recommended concurrent
supportive psychotherapy or family/social intervention procedures. The
recommendations varied systematically, according to the initial history
obtained and to the initial response to treatment.