[Guidelines based on decision support software. Quality management in neurological outpatient schizophrenia...

The positive effect of greater adherence to evidence-based guidelines on possibilities of optimizing diagnosis and therapy has been shown various times. Electronic systems for interactive support and systematization of physicians' decision-making represent a relatively new method for implementing guidelines. Introducing the "schizophrenia module", newly developed decision support software is presented combining electronic data processing-based, quality-oriented documentation and interactive decision support in the outpatient treatment for schizophrenic disorders. Structure, functionality, and options of use are presented. Besides classic measures of quality management (benchmarking), electronic decision support systems can contribute to improve process quality and outcome in the treatment of mental diseases.