An appraisal of practice guidelines for early intervention services for psychosis: Using AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation) to enhance the quality and trustworthiness of guidelines in the future.
Schizophr ResJul 8, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry
Manuela Ferrari, Nicole Pawliuk, Jai Shah et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review evaluated the quality of early intervention services (EIS) guidelines for psychosis using the AGREE II framework. Thirty-two guidelines were assessed, revealing that while 75% scored high on Scope and Purpose, only 22% excelled in Rigour of Development. The findings highlight significant methodological gaps in guideline formulation.
Key findings
- 75% of guidelines scored ≥70% on Scope and Purpose.
- Only 22% of guidelines scored well on Rigour of Development.
- More than half of the guidelines provided no information on implementation barriers.
- Limited stakeholder involvement was noted in the development of EIS-specific guidelines.
Why it matters
The appraisal of EIS guidelines underscores the need for improved methodological rigor and stakeholder engagement, which are crucial for ensuring effective implementation and delivery of evidence-based interventions in psychosis care.