This CPG on schizophrenia and incipient psychotic disorder is an update and expansion of the guideline edited in the year 2003. The update has been carried out by means of a new systematic review of scientific evidence that appeared after 2002, and new contributions derived from research on the early phases of schizophrenia and incipient psychotic disorder have been taken into account for the expansion of contents. Both aspects have advised the modification of content order, particularly contents relating to healthcare interventions and the classification of the phases of these disorders. As will be evidenced, it has been decided to subdivide the clinical course and corresponding recommendations into two big phases: early phases of psychosis and phases of schizophrenia.

Given that the document herein presented is an update, it has maintained some coherence with the CPG published in 2003 and differs to some extent in terms of the format and methodology criteria established within the framework of the CPG Program for the development of the Quality Plan of the NHS.