CPG for Psychosocial Interventions in Severe Mental ... - GuÃaSalud
CPG for Psychosocial Interventions in Severe Mental ... - GuÃaSalud
CPG for Psychosocial Interventions in Severe Mental ... - GuÃaSalud
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Appendix 4. In<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>for</strong> people with SMI<br />
and their families<br />
1. What is a Cl<strong>in</strong>ical Practice Guidel<strong>in</strong>e?<br />
This document is an essential part of the composition of a Cl<strong>in</strong>ical Practice Guidel<strong>in</strong>e (<strong>CPG</strong>), it<br />
<strong>in</strong>cludes those contents that the authors believe may be important <strong>for</strong> the people <strong>in</strong>terested, <strong>in</strong><br />
order to be able to have <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation and help cope with and <strong>in</strong> this health problem.<br />
A <strong>CPG</strong> is a scientific <strong>in</strong>strument, comprised of a series of systematically developed recommendations,<br />
based on the best evidence available, <strong>in</strong> order to help cl<strong>in</strong>icians and patients take decisions.<br />
Its purpose is to reduce the variability of cl<strong>in</strong>ical practice, provid<strong>in</strong>g summarised <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation.<br />
Each recommendation is based on the scientific quality of the studies and publications, the<br />
professionals’ experience and the users’ preferences. Decid<strong>in</strong>g which questions on psychosocial<br />
<strong>in</strong>terventions <strong>in</strong> SMI are pert<strong>in</strong>ent and require an answer, search<strong>in</strong>g <strong>for</strong> <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation, summ<strong>in</strong>g up<br />
data and agree<strong>in</strong>g to the f<strong>in</strong>al content have been the work of the Guidel<strong>in</strong>e development group<br />
over the last few months.<br />
This <strong>CPG</strong> has been funded through the agreement signed by the Carlos III Health Institute<br />
an organisation perta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Science and Innovation, and the Aragon Health<br />
Sciences Institute , with<strong>in</strong> the framework of collaboration provided <strong>for</strong> <strong>in</strong> the Quality Plan <strong>for</strong> the<br />
National Healthcare System.<br />
The <strong>CPG</strong> is not a substitute <strong>for</strong> scientific knowledge and the life-long tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g of professionals<br />
on the topic, but rather it is a part of this, another tool <strong>for</strong> decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g when doubts<br />
arise. For users and families it is a tool that can help them discover the characteristics of the different<br />
<strong>in</strong>terventions. Sometimes, our <strong>in</strong>tuitions, practical knowledge and common sense do not<br />
co<strong>in</strong>cide with the conclusions of the guidel<strong>in</strong>e. This may be due to a lack of knowledge <strong>in</strong> this<br />
area of knowledge or simply to the absence of good quality studies designed to be able to answer<br />
our problems. The application of our knowledge to those problems where there is no proof or<br />
evidence of the efficacy of the <strong>in</strong>terventions is where the cl<strong>in</strong>ician and the user must decide which<br />
decisions to make concern<strong>in</strong>g a specific health problem, <strong>in</strong> a specific scenario or with specific<br />
conditions and with respect to one s<strong>in</strong>gle person.<br />
The preparation of this guidel<strong>in</strong>e on <strong>Psychosocial</strong> <strong>Interventions</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Severe</strong> <strong>Mental</strong> Illness<br />
(SMI) presents additional difficulties as it does not respond to the needs <strong>for</strong> knowledge on one<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gle and def<strong>in</strong>ed mental disorder, due to the lack of consensus about the mean<strong>in</strong>g of the techniques<br />
and activities <strong>in</strong>cluded as Pyschosocial <strong>Interventions</strong> and the different def<strong>in</strong>itions of the<br />
concept of <strong>Severe</strong> <strong>Mental</strong> Illness.<br />
The majority of the documents and scientific evidence found refer to affective and non-affective<br />
psychotic disorders, schizophrenia and related disorders, bipolar disorders and severe and<br />
persistent affective disorders; thus they are all specifically def<strong>in</strong>ed or framed with<strong>in</strong> the concept<br />
of <strong>Severe</strong> <strong>Mental</strong> Illness.<br />
There are other <strong>CPG</strong>s that deal with specific psychiatric disorders and can be found at http://<br />
portal.guiasalud.es/web/guest/home<br />
120 CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES IN THE SPANISH NHS