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Guidelines, Updates, and Parameters
Practice Parameters Icon

For 40 years, the AACAP Committee on Quality Issues (CQI) has been charged with the development of documents intended to inform clinical practice in child and adolescent psychiatry.  Since the early Practice Parameters series, the development process for these documents has become increasingly rigorous and transparent, and for the new Clinical Practice Guideline series, the development process is consistent with recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) regarding "trustworthy guidelines".  


AACAP CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Clinical Practice Guidelines, authored by the CQI, are intended to address the assessment and treatment of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders.  Guideline treatment statements are based upon critical systematic literature reviews contracted to Evidence-based Practice Centers by the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.  The development process for each Guideline is included in the text of the Guideline.

  • Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Major and Persistent Depressive Disorders
    JAACAP Article in Press February 2023
  • Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders
    JAACAP Volume 59 October 2020


AACAP CLINICAL UPDATES

Clinical Updates, authored by AACAP Committees and the CQI, are intended to address three topic areas: the psychiatric assessment and management of specific populations of children and adolescents; the psychiatric assessment and management of children and adolescents in specific settings; and the application of specific psychiatric techniques to children and adolescents.  The Clinical Update development process can be accessed here.

  • Clinical Update: Collaborative Mental Health Care for Children and Adolescents in Pediatric Primary Care
    JAACAP Volume 62 February 2023
  • Clinical Update: Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Care in Community Systems of Care
    JAACAP Volume 62 April 2023
  • Telepsychiatry With Children and Adolescents
    JAACAP Volume 56 October 2017



AACAP PRACTICE PARAMETERS

Practice Parameters (now discontinued), authored by topic experts and the CQI, were intended to inform the practice of child and adolescent psychiatry in a wide variety of topic areas.  By standard convention, Practice Parameters become outdated after 5 years, as they have not been updated to reflect current knowledge and practice, and as such should be accessed for historical purposes only. 

  • Intellectual Disability
    JAACAP Volume 59 April 2020
  • Reactive Attachment Disorder and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
    JAACAP Volume 55 November 2016
  • Child Welfare
    JAACAP Volume 54 June 2015
  • Eating Disorders
    JAACAP Volume 54, May 2015
  • Autism
    JAACAP Volume 53 February 2014
  • Schizophrenia
    JAACAP Volume 52 September 2013   
  • Cultural Competency
    JAACAP Volume 52 October 2013  
  • Disaster Preparedness
    JAACAP Volume 52 November 2013  
  • Tic Disorders
    JAACAP Volume 52 December 2013 
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
    JAACAP Volume 51 January 2012  
  • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy with Children
    JAACAP Volume 51 May 2012  
  • GLBT Youth
    JAACAP Volume 51 September 2012  
  • Forensic Assessment
    JAACAP Volume 50 December 2011  
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
    JAACAP Volume 49 April 2010  
  • Physically Ill Children
    JAACAP Volume 48 February 2009  
  • Psychotropic Medication
    JAACAP Volume 48 September 2009  
  • Telepsychiatry (revised 2017 as Clinical Update)
    JAACAP Volume 47 December 2008  
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
    JAACAP Volume 46 January 2007  
  • Bipolar Disorders
    JAACAP Volume 46 January 2007  
  • Anxiety Disorders
    JAACAP Volume 46 February 2007  
  • Mental Health in Systems of Care
    JAACAP Volume 46 February 2007  
  • ADHD
    JAACAP Volume 46 July 2007  
  • Assessment of the Family
    JAACAP Volume 46 July 2007  
  • Depressive Disorders
    JAACAP Volume 46 November 2007  
  • Substance Abuse Disorders
    JAACAP Volume 44 June 2005  
  • Youth in Detention/Correctional Facilities
    JAACAP Volume 44 October 2005  
  • Psychiatric Consultation to Schools
    JAACAP Volume 44 October 2005  
  • Reactive Attachment Disorder (revised 2016)
    JAACAP Volume 44 November 2005  
  • Enuresis
    JAACAP Volume 43 December 2004  
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy
    JAACAP Volume 43 December 2004  
  • Stimulant Medications
    JAACAP Volume 41 February 2002   
  • Aggressive Behavior in Institutions
    JAACAP Volume 41 February 2002  
  • Suicidal Behavior
    JAACAP Volume 40 July 2001  
  • Schizophrenia (revised 2013)
    JAACAP Volume 40 July 2001  
  • Sexually Abusive Children
    JAACAP Volume 38 December 1999  
  • Mental Retardation
    JAACAP Volume 38 December 1999  
  • Autism (revised 2014)
    JAACAP Volume 38 December 1999  
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (revised 2010)
    JAACAP Volume 37 October 1998  
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (revised 2012)
    JAACAP Volume 37 October 1998  
  • Depressive Disorders (revised 2007)
    JAACAP Volume 37 October 1998  
  • Learning and Language Disorders
    JAACAP Volume 37 October 1998  
  • Psychiatric Assessment of Children and Adolescents
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Psychiatric Assessment of Infants and Toddlers
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Forensic Evaluation of Sexually Abused Children
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Child Custody Evaluations
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Anxiety Disorders (revised 2007)
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • ADHD (revised 2007)
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Conduct Disorder
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Substance Use Disorders (revised 2005)
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Bipolar Disorders (revised 2007)
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Schizophrenia (revised 2013)
    JAACAP Volume 36 October 1997  
  • Anxiety Disorders (revised 2007)
    JAACAP Volume 32 September 1993 
  • Conduct Disorder (revised 1997)
    JAACAP Volume 31 March 1992
  • ADHD (revised 2007)
    JAACAP Volume 30 May 1991

 

COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS?

The Committee on Quality Issues, under the direction of co-chairs Jane Ripperger-Suhler, MD and Carol Rockhill, MD, PhD, MPH, welcomes comments on the AACAP Clinical Updates and Clinical Practice Guidelines and their usefulness for clinical practice. Suggestions about topics for future Updates and Guidelines are also welcome. Please direct all comments/suggestions to the AACAP Clinical Practice Department at 202.966.7300 or email us at clinical@aacap.org.

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