Self-management of Schizophrenia

For people with schizophrenia, ‘simple’ tasks like making an appointment with a health care provider or keeping track of medication seem monumental. Via a new website, they can find resources to help them to regulate their care on their own.

The website is part of a new health care programme called Self-Management of Schizophrenia Using New Media. This supports the community integration of people with schizophrenia, enabling them to gain more control over their lives. It facilitates application of a multidisciplinary guideline on schizophrenia, monitors health care for this condition and encouraging outcome management. There will be an interactive platform (portal) with separate functions for clients and health professionals.

The multidisciplinary guideline on schizophrenia is integrated into the new application. Health practitioners following the guideline will automatically adhere to current evidence-based premises, protocols and standards. This is a major advantage in further implementing the guideline in daily practice.

The project Self-Management of Schizophrenia Using New Media results  from collaboration between the Trimbos Institute, the mental health organisations GGZ Breburg, and Western Noord-Brabant Mental Health Care (GGZ WNB), the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care at Utrecht University, and VitalHealth Software. If the instrument proves effective, comparable applications will be developed for other mental health disorders, such as depression and personality disorders.