Treatment Guidelines for Mental Health

Last update: 7 December 2012,
by Maureen Bell

You will find lists of books and journal articles relating to practice guidelines in the treatment of mental disorders on my bibliographies and reading lists page.

Additional material of interest can be found on my evidence-based medicine page.

Material which relates to service guidelines and standards is on my administration page

A Guide to the Development, Evaluation and Implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines
The document emphasises the importance of basing guideline recommendations on the systematic identification and synthesis of the best available scientific evidence. It is supplemented with a series of handbooks with further information on the main stages involved in the development of clinical practice guidelines.

I've also done a PubMed search for Health Technology Assessment reports on mental disorders. Health Technology Assessment is a publication of the National Co-Ordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment, in the UK., and the full text is available free through PubMed. Just click on the title to see an abstract, and link to full text.

TRIP Database
The TRIP Database searches across a range of high-quality medical information and gives direct, hyperlinked access to 'evidence-based' material on the web as well as articles from premier on-line journals such as the BMJ, JAMA, NEJM etc.

To make this page easier to navigate I've separated some of the guidelines out into broad subject categories. Links to collections of guidelines from various colleges and professional bodies are below, followed by individual subjects

Collections

American Psychiatric Association . Practice Guidelines
Guidelines on a range of disorders. Quick reference guides, and patient and family guides are also available here.

American Psychological Association (APA) - Guidelines for Practitioners

Canadian Psychiatric Association. Clinical Guidelines and Position Papers
A substantial collections of position papers, clinical guidelines and statements of practice.

National Guideline Clearinghouse
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) is a comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) (formerly the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research [AHCPR]), in partnership with the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP). There is a large list of links to guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders at this site. To access the list you will need to click on the Disease/Condition option.

Research Involving Persons With Mental Disorders That May Involve Decisionmaking Capacity. Volume 1, Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission
This is a report produced in December 1998 by the National Bioethics Advisory Commission in the United States.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Clinical Practice Guidelines
Both consumer and clinical versions of these guidelines are available at this site

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Position Statements
Position Statements are developed by the College on issues of relevance to psychiatry where the College has a public position. They are often used as the basis for answering questions from the media and the general public and in advocating the College’s considered view on certain issues.

Royal College of Psychiatrists. College Reports
College reports (previously known as Council Reports) have been formally approved by a meeting of the Central Policy Co-ordination Committee (CPCC) of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and constitute official College policy until revised or withdrawn.

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Mental Health

Treatment Choice in Psychological Therapies and Counselling: Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guideline.
From the Department of Health U.K., February 2001.

Treatment Guidelines for Dissociative Disorders in Adults and Children
Produced by the International Society for the Study of Dissociation.

Victoria's Mental Health Services. Clinical Practice Guidelines
From the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist in Victoria.

What Makes a Good Clinical Guideline?
By Rebecca Broughton, and Barrie Rathbone. This document is available from Bandolier's EBM Glossary
What Is 1(11) 2001

Individual Subjects

Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Phobias

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety (NICE)
Guidelines published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care for the NHS in England and Wales on the management of anxiety (panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, and generalised anxiety disorder) in adults in primary, secondary and community care.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG22 December 2004 (Replaced by CG113)

Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia
From the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, clinical guidelines to assist practitioners in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry vol. 37 2003, pp. 641-656

Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of Anxiety Disorders
Guidelines from the Canadian Psychiatric Association
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry July 2006, vol. 51, Suppl. 2

Depression and Anxiety - Computerised Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CCBT) (NICE)
A Technology Appraisal from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Technology Appraisal TA97, 2006

Evidence based guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders: A consensus statement from the British Association for Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology, Vol. 19 (6) (2005), 567-596

Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) in adults
From the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG113 January 2011

Generalised anxiety disorder overview - NICE Pathways

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (NICE)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Core interventions in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder Guidelines published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care for the NHS in England and Wales.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG 31 November 2005

Practice Guideline and Resources for Treatment of Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
A guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Assosiation.

Practice Guideline and Resources for Treatment of Patients with Panic Disorder
A guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Assosiation.

Bipolar Disorder

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorder
From the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, clinical guidelines to assist practitioners in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry vol. 38 2004, pp. 280-305

Bipolar Disorder (NICE)
The management of bipolar disorder in adults, children and adolescents, in primary and secondary care.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG38 July 2006

The British Association for Psychopharmacology | Evidence-based Guidelines for Trating Bipolar Disorder
Evidence-based guidelines for treating bipolar disorder: revised second edition—recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology
Journal of Psychopharmacology 2009: 23(4): 346-388

CANMAT Bipolar Disorder Guidelines -2009 Update
Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) and International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) collaborative update of CANMAT guidelines for the management of patients with bipolar disorder: update 2009.
Bipolar Disorders 2009: 11: 225–255

Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Bipolar Disorder Second Edition
American Psychiatric Asssociation, April 2002. Guideline Watch: Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Bipolar Disorder, 2nd Edition provides additional information that has become available since publication of the guideline, but is not a formal update of the guideline.

Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders

ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Primary Care for School-Age Children and Adolescents, Diagnosis and Management (Guideline)
A Health Care Guideline from the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Practice Parameters Summaries
Each Summary was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Details are provided of volume, issue, and date.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Diagnosis and management of ADHD in children, young people and adults
NICE Clinical Guideline CG72 September 2008

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - methylphenidate, atomoxetine and dexamfetamine (review) (NICE)
A Technology Appraisal from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence(NICE) in the U.K., on the use of methylphenidate, atomoxetine and dexamfetamine for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents (including a review of guidance TA13)
NICE Technology Appraisal TA98

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Preschool Aged Children
Hazell, Philip. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in preschool aged children. Adelaide: Australian Early Intervention Network for Mental Health in Young People, 2000. (Clinical approaches to early intervention in child and adolescent mental health, vol. 1)

Building and Sustaining Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Royal College of Psychiatrists. This report provides guidance to practitioners, managers and commissioners on the capacity and provision of specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Evidence is collated from a number of sources, including published and unpublished literature and examples of best practice.
Council Report CR137, June 2006

Clinical Practice Points on the Diagnosis, Assessment and Management of ADHD in Children and Adolescents
These clinical practice points aim to provide clarity to clinicians on one of the most controversial areas in ADHD - the use of medication, in particular stimulants, in managing children and adolescents with ADHD symptoms. The CPPs also discuss psychological and educational strategies as other management options for some children/adolescents.National Health and Medical Research Council, 2012.

Conduct Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Summary and recommendations of the expert group brought together by INSERM (the French National Medical Research Institute) within the framework of the collective expertise procedure to answer the questions raised by the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie des travailleurs indépendants (CANAM; French Health Insurance Fund) concerning the screening, management, and prevention of conduct disorder in children and adolescents. INSERM , 2005.

Conduct disorder in children - parent-training/education programmes (NICE)
Parent-training/education programmes in the management of children with conduct disorders. A Technology Appraisal from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the U.K.
NICE Technology Appraisal TA102 July 2006

Early Intervention for Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Dadds, Mark, Seinen, Anita, Roth, Janet & Harnett, Paul. Early intervention for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Adelaide: Australian Early Intervention Network for Mental Health in Young People, 2000. (Clinical approaches to early intervention in child and adolescent mental health, vol. 2)

Early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders: Guidelines for best practice
By Margot Prior, and Jacqueline Roberts. Canberra, Department of Health and Ageing, 2006. There is also a much larger research document A review of the research to identify the most effective models of practice in early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders

Early Intervention in Conduct Problems in Children
Sanders, Matthew R, Gooley, Shylaja & Nicholson, Jan. Early intervention in conduct problems in children. Adelaide: Australian Early Intervention Network for Mental Health in Young People, 2000. (Clinical approaches to early intervention in child and adolescent mental health, vol. 3)

Improving access to child and adolescent mental health services: reducing waiting times policy and practice guide(including guidance on the 18 weeks referral to treatment standard)
This joint DH/DCSF guide states how the 18 weeks referral to treatment standard, (NHS Operating Framework for 2009/10) applies to non-emergency consultant-led CAMHS services and pathways. It shows how accessible low-wait CAMHS can be achieved and provides good practice examples. Produced by the Department of Health, Department for Children, Schools and Familes, (U.K.), August 2009.

Management of attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorders in children and young people
A national clinical guideline. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), October 2009.
SIGN Publication No. 112

Mental disorders: Children and adolescents screening and prevention (2002)
Summary and recommendations of the expert group brought together by INSERM (the French National Medical Research Institute) within the framework of the collective expertise procedure to answer the questions raised by the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie des travailleurs indépendants (CANAM; French Health Insurance Fund) on the detection and prevention of mental disorders in children and adolescents.

New Zealand Guidelines for the Assessment and Treatment of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
New Zealand Ministry of Health, July 2001.

Patients as Parents: Addressing the needs, including the safety, of children whose parents have mental illness
Royal College of Psychiatrists. This report provides a fully referenced and practical summary of key issues involving the interactions and influences between parental psychiatric disorder and child mental health and wellbeing. It promotes an ecological approach in which mental illness is firmly embedded within a family and social context.
Council Report CR105, June 2002

Practice Parameters for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder
From the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Promoting the quality of life of looked-after children and young people
This guideline was produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, and the Social Care Institute for Excellence in the U.K
NICE Public Health Guidance PH28 October 2010

Psychiatric services for adolescents and adults with Asperger syndrome and other autistic-spectrum disorders
Royal College of Psychiatrists. This report is a consensus view of the psychiatric services required for many with ASD in adolescence and adulthood. The focus is often on diagnosis, but this is only one part of a wider process of multidisciplinary assessment that should then flow on to management. While the report focuses narrowly on psychiatry, it recognises that this is only one part of a more extensive range of services.
Council Report CR136, April 2006

The Psychological Adjustment of Children with Chronic Conditions
Swanston, Heather, Williams, Katrina & Nunn, Kenneth. The psychological adjustment of children with chronic conditions. Adelaide: Australian Early Intervention Network for Mental Health in Young People, 2000. (Clinical approaches to early intervention in child and adolescent mental health, vol. 5)

Depressive Disorders

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines for the treatment of depression.

Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of depression
From the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, clinical guidelines to assist practitioners in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry vol. 38 2004, pp. 389-407

Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Depressive Disorders
Canadian Psychiatric Association, 2001-2.

Depression (NICE)
Guidelines published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care for the NHS in England and Wales on the management of depression in primary and secondary care.
NICE Clinical Guideline 23 December 2004 (updated and replaced by CG90)

Depression and Anxiety - Computerised Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CCBT) (NICE)
A Technology Appraisal from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the U.K. (Review of Technology Appraisal 51)
NICE Technology Appraisal TA97 February 2006

Depression in Children and Young People (NICE)
Depression in children and young people: identification and management in primary, community and secondary care. Guidelines published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care for the NHS in England and Wales.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG28 September 2005

Depression overview - NICE Pathways
NICE Pathways is an online tool for health and social care professionals that brings together all related NICE guidance and associated products in a set of interactive topic-based diagrams. Each Pathway includes quality standards, technology appraisals, clinical and public health guidance and NICE implementation tools.

Depression: The Treatment and Management of Depression in Adults (Update)
This guideline is published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K. alongside Depression with a chronic physical health problem
NICE Clinical Guideline CG90 October 2009

eMJA: Effectiveness of complementary and self-help treatments for depression
By Anthony F Jorm, Helen Christensen, Kathleen M Griffiths and Bryan Rodgers
Medical Journal of Australia 20 May 2002, 176 (10 Suppl): S84-S95

eMJA: Treating depression: the beyondblue guidelines for treating depression in primary care
By Pete M Ellis and Don A R Smith
Medical Journal of Australia 20 May 2002, 176 (10 Suppl): S77-S83

Evidence-based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with antidepressants: A revision of the 2000 British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines
British Association for Psychopharmacology, 2008

Identification of common mental disorders and management of depression in primary care
New Zeaalnd Guidelines Group, July 2008.

Major Depression in Adults in Primary Care
A Health Care Guideline from the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement, May 2012..

Non-pharmaceutical management of depression
A national clinical guideline. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), January 2010.
SIGN Guideline No. 114

Practice Guideline for theTreatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder 3rd edition
A practice guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Association, November 2010.

Prodigy Guidance - Depression
PRODIGY is a source of clinical knowledge, based on the best available evidence, about the common conditions and symptoms managed in primary care. It is produced by the Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics at Newcastle in the U.K.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for severe depression
From the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
NICE Guidance Number: IPG242 November 2007

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the treatment of substance use disorders.

Alcohol Treatment Guidelines for Indigenous Australians
Canberra, Department of Health and Ageing, 2007

Alcohol use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence
From the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the U.K
NICE Clinical Guideline CG115 February 2011

Alcohol-use disorders overview - NICE Pathways
NICE Pathways cover clinical guidelines, technology appraisals, public health and social care advice, quality standards and implementation tools.

Alcohol-use disorders: physical complications
From the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the U.K
NICE Clinical Guidelines CG100 June 2010

Alcohol-use disorders - preventing the development of hazardous and harmful drinking.
From the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the U.K
NICE Public Health Guidance PH24 June 2010

CSAT Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP)s
These are best practice guidelines for the treatment of substance abuse from the CSAT (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment) Office of Evaluation, Scientific Analysis, and Synthesis.

Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia. Professional Resources
A collection of guidelines on various aspects of drug and alcohol use and abuse.

Drug misuse - methadone and buprenorphine (NICE)
Methadone and buprenorphine for managing opioid dependence. A Technology Appraisal from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Technology Appraisal TA114 January 2007

Drug misuse - naltrexone (NICE)
Naltrexone for the management of opioid dependence. A Technology Appraisal from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Technology Appraisal TA115 January 2007

Drug misuse: opioid detoxification
From the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline 52 July 2007

Drug misuse: psychosocial interventions
From the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG51 July 2007

Effective Interventions Unit: Integrated Care Pathways Guide 6: Drug Misuse in Acute Psychiatric Settings
From the Effective Interventions Unit, Substance Misuse Division of the Scottish Executive.

Guidelines for the treatment of alcohol problems
These guidelines are an update of the 2003 guidelines, and were prepared for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, by by Paul Haber, Nicholas Lintzeris, Elizabeth Proude and Olga Lopatko, June 2009.

Interventions to Reduce Substance Misuse Among Vulnerable Young People
Community-based interventions to reduce substance misuse among vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people.
NICE Public Health Guidance PH4 March 2007

The Management of Harmful Drinking and Alcohol Dependence in Primary Care
A national clinical guideline. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), September 2003, updated December 2004.
SIGN Guideline No. 74

Managing borderline personality disorder and substance use - an integrated approach
From the NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal. This article appeared in the Australian Family Physician (2011);40(6):376-381.

Models of Intervention and Care for Psychostimulant Users
Report prepared for the National Drug Strategy. Edited by Amanda Baker, Nicole K. Lee, and Linda Jenner. 2nd. edition. Published for Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, 2004.
National Drug Strategy Monograph Series no. 51

National Health and Medical Research Council - Guidelines - Alcohol, Drugs & Substance Abuse

Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Substance Use Disorders 2nd edition
A practice guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Association, May 2006. Guideline Watch: Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Substance Use Disorders, 2nd Edition provides additional information that has become available since publication of the guideline, but is not a formal update of the guideline.

Preventing Substance Use Problems Among Young People: A Compendium of Best Practices
Prepared by: Gary Roberts, Douglas McCall, Andrea Stevens-Lavigne, Jim Anderson, Angela Paglia, Sandy Bollenbach, Jamie Wiebe and Louis Gliksman Coordinated by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse for the Office of Canada’s Drug Strategy Health Canada, 2002.

The Prevention of Substance Use, Risk and Harm in Australia - a review of the evidence
By Wendy Loxley and others. A report prepared by the National Drug Research Centre and the Centre for Adolescent Health. Published for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, 2004.

Smoking prevention and cessation overview - NICE Pathways
NICE Pathways cover clinical guidelines, technology appraisals, public health and social care advice, quality standards and implementation tools.

The Treatment of Alcohol Problems: A Review of the Evidence
Prepared for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) Fiona Shand, Jennifer Gates, Julia Fawcett and Richard Mattick, June 2003.

Dual Diagnosis

Behavioral Health Recovery Management Service Planning Guidelines Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Disorders
These guidelines (April 2001) were developed for the Behavioral Health Recovery Management project by Dr. Kenneth Minkoff. The project is an initiative of Fayette Companies, Peoria, IL; Chestnut Health Systems, Bloomington, IL; and the University of Chicago Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

Best Practices: Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Prepared by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada's Drug Strategy, 2002.

Co-Occurring Center for Excellence (COCE) Overview Papers | SAMHSA
COCE was launched by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in September 2003, and provided echnical assistance, training, products, and resources to support the dissemination and adoption of best practices in systems and programs that serve persons with co-occurring disorders.

Comorbid Mental Disorders and Substance Use Disorders: Epidemiology, Prevention and Treatment
Report prepared by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre for the National Drug Strategy. Edited by Maree Teesson, and Heather Proudfoot. Published for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing 2003.

Comorbidity of mental disorders and substance use: A brief guide for the primary care clinician
Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia 2008. This monograph provides clinicians with information on how best to manage individuals with comorbid mental disorders and substance use issues. It updates and expands the original comorbidity management guidelines published in 2002.
National Drug Strategy. Monograph series no. 71

Comprehensive Continuous Integrated System of Care (CCISC) Psychopharmacology Practice Guidelines for Individuals with Co-occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders (COD)
Developed by Kenneth Minkoff, with assistance from Terry Schwartz, Jeff Rowe, and other members of the sychopharmacology Committee of the San Diego County CCISC Project. Based on the psychopharmacology guidelines in Minkoff (2001), Service Planning Guidelines for Co-occurring Psychiatric and Substance Disorders, Illinois Behavioral Health Recovery Management Project. Additional information about CCISC is available here.

Dual diagnosis in mental health inpatient and day hospital settings
Department of Health (UK,) October 2006. This guidance covers the assessment and clinical management of patients with mental illness being cared for in psychiatric inpatient or day care settings who also use or misuse alcohol and/or illicit or other drugs. It also covers organisational and management issues to help mental health services manage these patients effectively.

Expert Paper: Dual Diagnosis of Mental Disorder and Substance Misuse
By Dr Mary McMurran, this paper is one of a series produced by the NHS National Programme on Forensic Mental Health Research and Development.

Managing borderline personality disorder and substance use - an integrated approach
From the NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal. This article appeared in the Australian Family Physician (2011);40(6):376-381.

Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide. Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide.
Produced by the U.K. Department of Health, April 2002.

Psychosis with coexisting substance misuse: assessment and management in adults and young people
From the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG120 March 2011

Smoking Reduction and Cessation for People with Schizophrenia - Guidelines for General Practitioners & Management Guide for General Practitioners
From the Mental Health Services in Victoria, guidelines developed by SANE Australia and the University of Melbourne and endorsed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Co-Occurring Mental Disorders
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Rockville, MD., Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, 2005.
Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 42

Tobacco-Free Living in Psychiatric Settings
A Best-Practices Toolkit. Promoting Wellness and Recovery. July 2007. Developed by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) in the United States. Provides practical tips for converting facilities to smoke-free status.

Eating Disorders

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the treatment of eating disorders.

Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of anorexia nervosa
From the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, clinical guidelines to assist practitioners in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry vol. 38 2004, pp. 659–670

Eating Disorders (NICE)
Guidelines published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care for the NHS in England and Wales, on core interventions in the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and related eating disorders.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG9 January 2004

Guidelines for the nutritional management of anorexia nervosa
Royal College of Psychiatrists. This report was produced by a multidisciplinary group which included specialists in eating disorders in adults and children, dietitians and experts in clinical nutrition.
Council Report CR130, July 2005

Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Rosen and the Committee on Adolescence. A policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Pediatrics Vol. 126 No. 6 December 2010, pp. 1240-1253

MARSIPAN: Management of Really Sick Patients with Anorexia Nervosa
Royal College of Psychiatrists. This report provides recommendations and unambiguous guidelines on the management of this patient group in a number of settings, in order to help reduce the number of avoidable deaths of patients with severe anorexia nervosa.
Council Report CR162, October 2010

Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders, 3rd edition
A practice guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Association, May 2006. This guideline has not been updated for over 5 years and cannot be asumed to be current. It is accompanied by the following warning
"ALERT: SIBUTRAMINE
Abbott Laboratories and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified healthcare professionals and patients about the voluntary withdrawal of Meridia (sibutramine), an obesity drug, from the U.S. market because of clinical trial data indicating an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Physicians are advised to stop prescribing Meridia to their patients, including for binge eating disorder, and patients should stop taking this medication."

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the use of ECT.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy for depressive illness, schizophrenia, catatonia and mania; systematic reviews and economic modelling studies
By J. Greenhalgh, C. Knight, D. Hind, C. Beverley and S. Walters.
Health Technology Assessment 2005; Vol. 9: No. 9

The ECT Accreditation Service (ECTAS) Resource Library
From the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Includes standards for the administration of ECT..

ECT - Electroconvulsive Therapy (NICE)
A Technology Appraisal from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence(NICE) in the U.K., on the use of electroconvulsive therapy.
NICE Technology Appraisal TA59 April 2003

ECT Manual - Licensing, Legal Requirements and Clinical Guidelines
Produced by the Mental Health Branch, Department of Human Services, Victoria, January 2009.

Electroconvulsive therapy
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Position Statement 74, August 2012.

Electroconvulsive Therapy: Guidelines on the administration of electroconvulsive therapy
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Clinical Memorandum #12, (last updated February 2007)

Electroconvulsive Therapy: Guidelines for Health Authorities in British Columbia
Produced by the Mental Health Evaluation and Community Consultation Unit, University of British Columbia, these guidelines cover patient and family education, clinical applications of ECT by physicians, nurses, and anesthetists, as well as suggestions for charting, professional education, and quality assurance programs.

Ethical Guidelines

In this section I've included links to material on the rights of those with a mental illness. For additional material on codes of professional ethics and bioethical literature see my public health page. For legislation and related literature see my legislation page

Ethics Codes & Practice Guidelines for Assessment, Therapy, Counseling, & Forensic Practice
This page presents links to therapy, counseling, forensic, and related ethics (and practice) codes developed by professional organizations.

Guidelines for the Promotion of Human Rights of Persons with Mental Disorders
Geneva : Mental Disorders Control, Division of Mental Health and Prevention of Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, 1996.

Mental Health Bill of Rights
A joint initiative of mental health professional organisations in the United States to establish principles for the provision of mental health and substance abuse treatment services.

RANZCP - Ethics
Policy and guidelines on ethical issues, from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness...
The full text of the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Health Care, December 1991, can be printed from this site.

Forensic Psychiatry

Community Treatment Orders (November 2005)
Restricted involuntary treatment orders and restricted community treatment orders (October 2008)
Guidelines from the Chief Psychiatrist, Mental Health Branch, Victorian Government Department of Human Services.

A guide for the management of dual diagnosis for prisons
London, Department of Health, 2009. Dual diagnosis, the co-existence of mental health and substance misuse problems, has a higher prevalence in prisons than in the general community. This document provides good practice guidance to commissioners and practitioners on the management of dual diagnosis within a prison setting.

National Standards for the Provision of Social Care Services in the High Security Hospitals
London, Department of Health, 2001.

Offender Mental Health Care Pathway
Great Britain, Department of Health, January 2005. Includes best practice templates to guide providers and commissioners on mental health services for those involved in the criminal justice system.

Geriatric Psychiatry and the Dementias

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the treatment of the dementias.

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders in old age.

Alzheimer's disease - donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine and memantine
Published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
NICE Technology Appraisal TA217 March 2011

Alzheimer's - donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine (review) and memantine
Published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care for the NHS in England and Wales, on drugs for Alzheimer's Disease.
NICE Technology Appraisal TA111 September 2007 (This guidance has been updated and replaced by TA217 )

Assessing the Mental Health Needs of Older People
A SCIE (Social Care Institute for Excellence) practice guide. "This Guide gives an overview of information and current practice to all those involved in assessing the social care needs of older people with mental health needs. It is aimed primarily at practitioners undertaking assessments, in particular, those front-line staff who may be the first professional in contact with an older person or their family and friends"
SCIE Guide 03, April 2006

Clinical practice with anti-dementia drugs: a revised (second) consensus statement from the British Association for Psychopharmacology
Journal of Psychopharmacology (published online 18 November 2010)

Common core principles for supporting people with dementia: a guide to training the social care and health workforce
Department of Health (U.K.) June 2011. The 'Common core principles for supporting people with dementia' have been produced jointly by Skills for Care and Skills for Health. They can be used to support workforce development for any member of staff, in any health or social care setting, working with people at any stage of dementia. They can also be used to inform the content of curricula and training courses.

Consensus Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Depression in the Elderly
The Consensus Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Depression in the Elderly have been produced through collaboration between the Centre for Mental Health, NSW Health Department, and the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age, Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP). Published by the NSW Health Department, 2001.

Dementia overview - NICE Pathways
NICE Pathways is an interactive tool for health and social care professionals providing fast access to NICE guidance and associated products. This pathway covers supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care.

Dementia quality standard
This NICE quality standard defines a high standard of care for people wth dementia. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), June 2010.

Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care
This guidance represents the view of NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) and SCIE (Social Care Institute for Excellence).
NICE Clinical Guideline CG42 November 2006

Guidelines for working with people with challenging behaviours in residential aged care facilities – using appropriate interventions and minimising restraint
Produced by the New South Wales Department of Health, 2006.

Management of patients with dementia: A national clinical guideline
From the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) February 2006.
SIGN Guideline No. 86

Safe to wander?
Principles and guidance on good practice in caring for residents with dementia and related disorders where consideration is being given to the use of wandering technologies in care homes and hospitals. Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, 2005.

Services for Younger People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
Royal College of Psychiatrists. Co-published with the Alzheimer’s Society. (Replaces CR77: Services for younger people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.)
Council Report CR135, March 2006

Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 2nd edition
A practice guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Association, October 2007.

What is the effectiveness of old-age mental health services?
From the Health Evidence Network (HEN) of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.

Personality Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder: Treatment and Management
Published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K., this guideline covers the care, treatment and support that people with borderline personality disorder should be offered.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG78 January 2009

eMedicine - Personality Disorders
eMedicine's professional content undergoes 4 levels of physician peer review plus an additional review by a PharmD prior to publication. The evidence-based content is updated regularly to provide the latest practice guidelines.

Expert Paper: Personality Disorders
By Dr Mary McMurran, this paper is one of a series produced by the NHS National Programme on Forensic Mental Health Research and Development.

Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder
A practice guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Association, October 2001. Guideline Watch: Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder provides additional information that has become available since publication of the guideline, but is not a formal update of the guideline.

Psychological therapies including dialectical behaviour therapy for borderline personality disorder: a systematic review and preliminary economic evaluation
Health Technology Assessment 2006; Vol 10: number 35

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Disasters

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, and management of disaster victims.

Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health - Guidelines
A range of guidelines including information for families and caregivers.

eMedicine - Acute Treatment of Disaster Survivors
eMedicine's professional content undergoes 4 levels of physician peer review plus an additional review by a PharmD prior to publication. The evidence-based content is updated regularly to provide the latest practice guidelines.

IASC Guidelines on Mental health and Psychosocial support in emergency settings
Geneva, Interagency Standing Committee, 2007.

Mental Health and Mass Violence: Evidence-Based Early Psychological Intervention for Victims/Survivors of Mass Violence. A Workshop to Reach Consensus on Best Practices
National Institute of Mental Health (2002). The report was developed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Departments of Defense, Justice, and Veterans Affairs, and the American Red Cross.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (NICE)
Anxiety: Management of post-traumatic stress disorder in adults in primary, secondary and community care. Guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG26 March 2005

Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
A practice guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Association, November 2004. Guideline Watch (March 2009): Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder provides additional information that has become available since publication of the guideline, but is not a formal update of the guideline.

Primary Care - Mental Health

Better Practices in Collaborative Mental Health Care: An Analysis of the Evidence Base
A report for the Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Initiative, by Marilyn A Craven, and Roger Bland.
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, May 2006, Vol 51, Suppl. 1

Common mental health disorders: identification and pathways to care
Published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K., this clinical guideline offers evidence-based advice on the care and treatment of adults who have common mental health disorders, with a particular focus on primary care.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG123 May 2011

Identification of Common Mental Disorders and Management of Depression in Primary Care
New Zealand Guidelines Group, 2008.

Psychiatric Disorders Associated with Pregnancy and Childbirth

Antenatal and postnatal mental health overview - NICE Pathways
NICE Pathways is an online tool for health and social care professionals that brings together all related NICE guidance and associated products in a set of interactive topic-based diagrams. Each Pathway includes quality standards, technology appraisals, clinical and public health guidance and NICE implementation tools.

Antenatal and postnatal mental health
Guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG45 February 2007

Management of perinatal mood disorders
Produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
SIGN Publication No. 127, March 2012

Psychological well being during pregnancy| Cochrane Summaries
From the Cochrane Library - links to the full text of Cochrane reviews are provided.

Reproductive Mental Health | Guidelines
From Perinatal Services BC, British Columbia.

Psychiatric Nursing

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines for psychiatric nursing.

ACMHN Standards of Practice for Mental Health Nurses
Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, 2010.

Best practice competencies and capabilities for pre-registration mental health nurses in England: The Chief Nursing Officer's review of mental health nursing
Department of Health (UK), April 2006. This document identifies the competencies and capabilities, including knowledge and performance criteria, essential for mental health nurses at the point of registration.

Engaging People: Observation of People with Acute Mental Health Problems: A Good Practice Statement.
NHS, Scotland, 2002. “Engaging People” is a revision of the CRAG (Clinical Resource and Audit Group) document “Nursing Observation of Acutely Ill Psychiatric Patients in Hospital” (1995) and is relevant to all who provide or receive acute psychiatric care.

International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. Position Statements.
Position statements on a number of issues of relevance to psychiatric nursing practice.

Recruitment and Retention of Mental Health Nurses: Good Practice Guide
From the Department of Health in the U.K., April 2006.

Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the treatment of schizophrenia.

Aripiprazole for schizophrenia in people aged 15 to 17 years
From the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K
NICE Technology Appraisal TA 213 January 2011

Clinical Practice Guidelines: Treatment of Schizophrenia
From the Canadian Psychiatric Association.
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, November 2005, Vol. 50, Suppl. 1

Consensus Statement on High-Dose Antipsychotic Medication
Royal College of Psychiatrists. This report addresses the use of high-dose antipsychotic medication only in adult mental health services, and not other psychiatric services such as child and adolescent, elderly, and learning difficulties.
Council Report CR138, May 2006

Early Psychosis: A Care Guide
Produced in April 2002, by the Mental Health Evaluation and Community Consultation Unit, University of British Columbia, this publication is intended as a guide to optimal practice in assessing and treating early psychosis. The Guide is the final resource produced as a result of the Early Psychosis Initiative (1999 – 2001) jointly sponsored by The Ministry of Health Services and The Ministry of Children and Development of British Columbia.

Early Psychosis: A Review of the Treatment Literature
A Research Report Prepared for the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development, August 2004, by Tom Ehmann, Jodi Yager, and Laura Hanson.

Evaluating Antipsychotic Medications: Predictors of Clinical Effectiveness
From the Canadian Psychiatric Association.
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry April 2003, vol. 44, Suppl. 1

Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia (2nd edition)
A practice guideline approved by the American Psychiatric Association, May 2006. Guideline Watch (September 2009): Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia provides additional information that has become available since publication of the guideline, but is not a formal update of the guideline.

Psychosocial Interventions in the Management of Schizophrenia
A national clinical guideline. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), October 1998.
SIGN Publication No. 30

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia and related disorders
From the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, clinical guidelines to assist practitioners in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry vol. 39 2005, pp. 1-30

Schizophrenia: Core interventions in the treatment and management of schizophrenia in adults in primary and secondary care
Guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG82 March 2009 (This is an update of guideline CG1, and replaces NICE Technology Appraisal TA43 (Schizophrenia - atypical antipsychotics )

A systematic review of atypical antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia
By A-M Bagnall, L Jones, L Ginnelly, R Lewis, J Glanville, S Gilbody, L Davies, D Torgerson, and J Kleijnen.
Health Technology Assessment 2003; Vol. 7: No. 13

Suicide and Self-Injurious Behaviour

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the management of people at risk of suicide or self harm.

Assessment and Management of People at Risk of Suicide (New Zealand Guidelines Group)
The New Zealand Guidelines Group was established by the National Health Committee (NHC) in 1996 as an informal network of expertise and information on guideline development and implementation. Its purpose is to train health and disability professionals and consumers in the development and implementation of evidence-based best practice guidelines.

Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of adult deliberate self harm
From the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, clinical guidelines to assist practitioners in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry vol. 38 2004, pp. 868-884

Better Services for People Who Self-Harm
Resources from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, including a manual of standards.

Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour: A Systematic Review: Annotated Bibliography
By Maria Leitner, Wally Barr, and Lindsay Hobby. Scottish Government Social Research, January 2008. The project provides a comprehensive overview of the effectiveness of interventions to prevent suicide, suicidal behaviour and ideation, in both key risk groups and the general population.

Emergency department self-harm presentations clinical audit tool
New Zealand Guidelines Group, July 2011.

For which strategies of suicide prevention is there evidence of effectiveness?
From the Health Evidence Network (HEN) of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.

Framework for Suicide Risk Assessment and Management for NSW Health Staff
New South Wales Department of Health, February 2005. Includes six individual protocol booklets which are designed to target the needs of staff in specific workplaces.

Guidelines for the Management of Deliberate Self Harm in Young People
Produced by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, May 2000.

Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Patients With Suicidal Behaviors
Practice guideline produced by the American Psychiatric Association, November 2003.

Self-harm (NICE)
Self-harm: The short-term physical and psychological management and secondary prevention of self-harm in primary and secondary care. Guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG16 July 2004

Self-harm (longer term management) (NICE)
This guideline offers advice on the longer-term treatment and management of self-harm. It follows on from Self-harm: the short-term physical and psychological management and secondary prevention of self-harm in primary and secondary care (NICE clinical guideline 16), which covered the treatment of self-harm within the first 48 hours of an incident. NICE have also produced a podcast in which Professor Navneet Kapur discusses the risk assessment process recommended with the guideline.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG133 November 2011

Self-harm overview - NICE Pathways
NICE Pathways is an online tool for health and social care professionals that brings together all related NICE guidance and associated products in a set of interactive topic-based diagrams. Each Pathway includes quality standards, technology appraisals, clinical and public health guidance and NICE implementation tools.

Suicide Identification, Assessment and Treatment Planning
From the CRICO/RMF, the patient safety and medical malpractice company owned by and serving the Harvard Medical community.

Violence

Click here to search PubMed for practice guidelines on the management of violent or aggressive behaviour.

Assaultive and Destructive Behaviour in a Treatment Setting: Guidelines for the Psychiatrist
A Position Paper of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, October 1996.

eMedicine - Aggression
eMedicine's professional content undergoes 4 levels of physician peer review plus an additional review by a PharmD prior to publication. The evidence-based content is updated regularly to provide the latest practice guidelines.

Good Medical Practice in the Psychiatric Care of Potentially Violent Patients in the Community
Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Council Report CR80, August 2000

Safety for Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Council Report CR134, January 2006

Violence (NICE)
Violence: The short-term management of disturbed/violent behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings and emergency departments. Guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the U.K.
NICE Clinical Guideline CG25 February 2005

Violence : Guidelines, reviews, position statements, recommendations, standards
From the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research, a page of links to resources on child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and violence.

Violence Risk Prediction
Dolan M, and Doyle M.
Violence risk prediction: Clinical and actuarial measures and the role of the Psychopathy Checklist.
British Journal of Psychiatry 2000, 177: 303-311

What evidence exists about the safety of physical restraint when used by law enforcement and medical staff to control individuals with acute behavioural disturbance?
By Peter Day. New Zealand Health Technology Assessment (NZHTA). (NZHTA Brief Series, September 2002, Volume 1, Number.3)