1st March 2024

A 21-year-old male presents to A&E with his housemate.

A 21-year-old male presents to A&E with his housemate. The housemate states that his friend has been experiencing visual hallucinations and has heard voices recently telling him to do things. The patient has no significant past medical history and does not take any regular medications. The friend discloses that occasionally they smoke cannabis together once every month or so.

He is referred to psychiatry, and after evaluation, he is deemed to be likely suffering from a first episode of schizophrenia.

Select the single, most appropriate initial management option