Abstract:
Schizophrenia, a severe mental illness characterized by high disability and chronicity, imposes a heavy disease burden on society and patients in China. Community-based management plays a crucial role in the long-term and comprehensive management of patients with schizophrenia. Through years of exploration, community-based management models—primarily focused on case management, assertive community treatment (ACT), and crisis intervention—have proven beneficial to the overall recovery of patients. However, notable differences exist in the implementation of these models between domestic and international practices. Given this context, we systematically analyze domestic and international research to examine the characteristics of different management models and the causes of the differences. Based on this analysis, we propose targeted recommendations for improving community-based management of schizophrenia in China. Regarding case management, a tiered approach should be adopted according to regional economic conditions and resource availability to optimize the efficiency of resource allocation. For ACT, we suggest developing a family-centered integrated intervention framework adapted to China's specific context. Finally, regarding crisis intervention, a collaborative family-community-police response mechanism should be established, complemented by enhanced professional training and streamlined referral procedures. We advocate enhancing resource allocation and theoretical research, along with broader involvement of all sectors of society, to jointly optimize the community-based management model for schizophrenia in China.