From Vanderbilt: Development of clinical practice guidelines ("advisory rather than compulsory"?)

Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2014 Mar 28;10:213-41. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185529.

Development of clinical practice guidelines.

Hollon SD1, Areán PA, Craske MG, Crawford KA, Kivlahan DR, Magnavita JJ, Ollendick TH, Sexton TL, Spring B, Bufka LF, Galper DI, Kurtzman H.

Author information

• 1Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240; email: steven.d.hollon@vanderbilt.edu.

Abstract

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are intended to improve mental, behavioral, and physical health by promoting clinical practices that are based on the best available evidence. The American Psychological Association (APA) is committed to generating patient-focused CPGs that are scientifically sound, clinically useful, and informative for psychologists, other health professionals, training programs, policy makers, and the public. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2011 standards for generating CPGs represent current best practices in the field. These standards involve multidisciplinary guideline development panels charged with generating recommendations based on comprehensive systematic reviews of the evidence. The IOM standards will guide the APA as it generates CPGs that can be used to inform the general public and the practice community regarding the benefits and harms of various treatment options. CPG recommendations are advisory rather than compulsory. When used appropriately, high-quality guidelines can facilitate shared decision making and identify gaps in knowledge.