Links: Best Practices by Subject

Links to online guidelines are provided on this page; although many are free, some have access restrictions. You can find others by using the library catalogue.

How to search the catalogue for best practices and guidelines: Use the arrow to change TITLE to COLLECTION Use the drop-down menu to select PRACTICE GUIDELINES See how it looks: view example Search the library catalogue

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View most current or recently added best practices and guidelines

Anxiety

• 2007. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. AACAP. PDF, 17 pages

• 2006. Management of anxiety disorders. Canadian Psychiatric Association. Link to document

• 2004. Anxiety: management of anxiety (panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, and generalised anxiety disorder) in adults in primary, secondary and community care. NICE. Link to document

Assertive Community Treatment 

• 2008. Assertive community treatment evidence-based practice kit. SAMHSA website 
• 2005. Ontario program standards for ACT teams. PDF, 41 pages
• 2002. Assertive community treatment for people with severe mental illness. Gary R. Bond for the Behavioral Health Recovery Management Project. PDF, 14 pages
• 2000. Assertive community treatment. British Columbia Mental Health and Addiction. PDF, 44 pages

• Assertive community treatment (ACT). New York State Office of Mental Health. Link to website

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity  

• 2009. Management of attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorders in children and young people. SIGN. Link to document New

• 2008. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management of ADHD in children, young people and adults. NICE. Link to document

• 2007. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. AACAP. PDF, 28 pages

• 2007. Evidence-based guidelines for management of ADHD in adolescents in transition to adult services and in adults. British Association for Psychopharmacology. Link to document

• 2006. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): methylphenidate, atomoxetine and dexamfetamine. NICE. Link to document  

Autism

• 2007. Assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders. [PDF, 73 pages] SIGN. PDF, 73 pages

Bipolar Disorder

• 2009. Yatham LN et al. CANMAT and ISBD collaborative update of CANMAT guidelines for the management of patients with bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorders. 2009;11(3):225-255. EBSCO full text  New
• 2009. WFSBP update 2009 on the treatment of acute mania. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 2009; 10(2): 85-116. PDF, 32 pages 
• 2009. Clinical practice recommendations for bipolar disorder. Acta Psych Scand Suppl, n.439. Ovid full text 
• 2008. Guy M. Goodwin et al. ECNP consensus meeting. Bipolar depression. Nice, March 2007. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008;18:535–549. PDF, 15 pages
• 2006. CANMAT guidelines for the management of patients with bipolar disorder: update 2007. Bipolar Disorders. 2006 Dec; 8(6): 721-739. EBSCO full text
• 2005. CANMAT guidelines for the management of patients with bipolar disorder. PDF, 65 pages
• 2006. Management of bipolar disorder in adults, children and adolescents. NICE. Link to document 
• 2005. Bipolar affective disorder: a national clinical guideline. SIGN. PDF, 43 pages
• 2004. Australia and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorder. PDF, 6 pages
• 2003. Evidence-based guidelines for treating bipolar disorder. British Association for Psychopharmacology. Link to document
• 2003. Full guidance on olanzapine and valproate semisodium in the treatment of acute mania associated with bipolar I disorder. NICE. Link to document
• 2002 + updates. Practice guideline and resources for treatment of patients with bipolar disorder (revision). American Psychiatric Association. Web page 

• 2009. Borderline personality disorder. NICE 
• 2002 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for: treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder. American Psychiatric Association. Web page

British Columbia

• B.C.'s mental health reform best practices

Childhood and Adolescence

• 2009. Practice parameter on the use of psychotropic medication in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2009; 48: 961-73.
• 2009. Screening and treatment for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Summary and recommendations 
• 2009. Guidance for the pharmacological management of substance misuse among young people, Department of Health (UK)
• 2009. Guidance for the pharmacological management of substance misuse among young people in secure environments, Department of Health (UK)
• 2007. Psychopharmacological treatment for very young children: contexts and guidelines. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 46: 1532-1572. Ovid full text or News release
• 2007. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. AACAP website
• 2007. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 46: 107-125. AACAP website or Ovid full text
• 2006. Parent-training/education programmes in the management of children with conduct disorders. NICE. Link to document
• 2005. Depression in children and young people: identification and management in primary, community and secondary care. NICE. Link to document
• 2004. Maternal depression and child development. Canadian Pediatric Society. PDF, 9 pages

Consumer Involvement

• Self-help and peer support. New York Office of Mental Health. Link to website
• 2003. Emerging new practices in organized peer support. Jean Campbell, Judy Leaver for the National Technical Assistance Center (US). Available from the PIE Database. PDF, 68 pages
• 2002. Best practice guidelines for consumer-delivered services. Mark Salzer and the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania Best Practices Team. PDF, 27 pages
• 2000. Consumer involvement and initiatives. British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions. PDF, 46 pages

Dementia

• 2008. Third Canadian Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia  evidence-based recommendations and supporting materials, Official website 
• 2008. Diagnosis and treatment of dementia. A series of articles published in CMAJ, based on the Third Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia.
• 2008. Current pharmacologic treatment of dementia: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Web page
• 2008. Cognitive impairment: is this dementia? Diagnosis to management. Toward Optimized Practice Program (Alberta) Link to document
• 2007. Cognitive impairment: is this dementia? Symptoms to diagnosis. Toward Optimized Practice Program (Alberta) Link to document

• 2007 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for: treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, second edition. American Psychiatric Association Web page

• 2007. Alzheimer's disease: donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine (review) and memantine (Amended September 2007; Comments added June 2009). NICE Link to document
• 2007. Cognitive impairment in the elderly: recognition, diagnosis and management. BC Ministry of Health. PDF, 30 pages
• 2006. Management of patients with dementia. SIGN. PDF, 57 pages
• 2006. Clinical practice with anti-dementia drugs. British Association for Psychopharmacology. Link to document
• 2006. Dementia : supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care. NICE/SCIE. Link to document
• 2006. Principles of care for patients with dementia resulting from Alzheimer disease. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Link to document
• 2001. Detection, diagnosis and management of dementia. The American Academy of Neurology. Link to guidelines and patient summaries

Depressive Disorder

• Diagnosis and management of major depressive disorder. BC Ministry of Health
• 2009. Depression: the treatment and management of depression in adults. NICE New
• 2009. The treatment and management of depression in adults with chronic physical health problems. NICE New
• 2009 CANMAT: (Subscription required)
• Clinical guidelines for the management of major depressive disorder in adults
• I. Classification, burden and principles of management
• II. Psychotherapy alone or in combination with antidepressant medication
• III. Pharmacotherapy
• IV. Neurostimulation therapies
• V. Complementary and alternative medicine treatments
• 2009. Clinical practice recommendations for depression. Acta Psych Scand Suppl, n.439. Ovid full text
• 2008. Using second-generation antidepressants to treat depressive disorders: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Web page
• 2008. Evidence-based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with antidepressants: A revision of the 2000 British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines. Web page
• 2007. Depression. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (Registration required)
• 2007. Transcranial magnetic stimulation for severe depression. NICE 
• 2005. Prescribing antidepressants for depression in 2005. An addendum to the CPA Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Depressive Disorders
• 2001. Clinical guidelines for the treatment of depressive disorders. Canadian Psychiatric Association
• 2005. Screening for depression in primary care. Recommendation statement from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care
• 2004. Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of depression. [PDF, 19 pages]
• 2000 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for: treatment of patients with major depressive disorder, second edition. American Psychiatric Association. Web page

Diabetes

• 2010. Clinical practice recommendations. American Diabetes Association New
• 2009. CVD and diabetes in people with severe mental illness position statement from the European Psychiatric Association. (PDF, 13 pages) In press, European Psychiatry (2009), doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.01.005. New
• 2008. Clinical practice guidelines. Canadian Diabetes Association
• International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines New
• Diabetes care- BC Ministry of Health
• GAC guidelines- Ontario Physicians
• 2008. Type 2 diabetes : national clinical guideline for management in primary and secondary care. National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions at the Royal College of Physicians (UK). The full text and appendices are available online as PDF files (278, 75 pages)
• 2007. Medical guidelines for clinical practice for the management of diabetes mellitus [PDF, 66 pages] American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Endocr Pract. 2007; 13(suppl 7):1-68.
• 2004. Consensus development conference on antipsychotic drugs and obesity and diabetes. American Diabetes Association et al.

Drug Therapy

2009. Clinical guideline recommendations for antipsychotic long-acting injections. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2009; 195: S63-S67. New
2009. Adherence problems in patients with serious and persistent mental illness. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Vol. 70(suppl.4): S1-S46. New
2009. Medicines adherence: involving patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence. NICE

Dual Diagnosis

• 2008. This guidance document from the New York State Office of Mental Health provides information on screening instruments and general guidance on assessment. Website 
• 2005. Comprehensive continuous integrated system of care (CCISC): psychopharmacology practice guidelines.  [PDF, 13 pages] Kenneth Minkoff
• 2005. Substance abuse treatment for persons with co-occurring disorders. (Treatment Improvement Protocol 42) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US)
• 2004. Evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological management of substance misuse, addiction, and co-morbidity. British Association for Psychopharmacology 
• 2004. Integrated care pathways guide 6: drug misuse in acute psychiatric settings. Effective Interventions Unit, Substance Misuse Division, Scottish Executive
• 2002. Best practices: concurrent mental health and substance use disorders. Health Canada and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Ontario)
• 2002. Dual diagnosis good practice guide. [PDF, 44 pages] Department of Health (Great Britain)
• 2001. Motivational enhancement for dually diagnosed consumers. [PDF, 24 pages] Daniel D. Squires, Theresa B. Moyers for the Behavioral Health Recovery Management Project  

Eating Disorders

• 2006 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for: treatment of patients with eating disorders, third edition. American Psychiatric Association. Web page
• 2006. Position of the American Dietetic Association. Nutrition intervention in the treatment of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). [PDF, 10 pages] Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 106: 2073-82
• 2005. Eating disorders. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (Registration required)
• 2004. Australia and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of anorexia nervosa. [PDF, 12 pages]
• 2004. Eating disorders. NICE

• 2009. ECT manual: licensing, legal requirements and clinical practice guidelines.

  Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Australia New

• 2008. Electroconvulsive therapy review guidelines. Office of Mental Health, New York State

• 2005. The ECT handbook. [PDF, 256 pages] Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK)

• 2003. Guidance on the use of electroconvulsive therapy. [PDF, 37 pages] NICE
• 2003. Role of the registered psychiatric nurse in the administration of electroconvulsive therapy. [PDF, 17 pages] College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia
• 2002. Electroconvulsive therapy: guidelines for health authorities in British Columbia. [PDF, 151 pages] Mental Health Evaluation and Community Consultation Unit and Ministry of Health Services

Family

• Family education. New York State Office of Mental Health
• 2004. Best practices in family intervention for serious mental illness. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
• 2003. Family services for severe mental illness. [PDF, 48 pages] Kim T. Mueser for the Behavioral Health Recovery Management Project
• 2000. Family support and involvement. [PDF, 44 pages] British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• 2007. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a guide for healthcare professionals. British Medical Association 

• 2006. Alcohol consumption and the outcomes of pregnancy. [PDF, 10 pages] RCOG

• 2005. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Canadian guidelines for diagnosis. CMAJ.  v.172, supplement 5: S1-S21

Geriatric Nursing

• How to try this: assessments and best practices in care of older adults. (Print and online videos) The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing and AJN
• A new look at the old. (Print and online videos) Gerontological Society of America and AJN
• 2008. Best practices toolkit: implementing and sustaining change in long-term care. Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
• 2007. Neurologic assessment of the older adult: a guide for nurses. [PDF, 22 pages] American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
• 2004. Caregiving strategies for older adults with delirium, dementia and depression. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
• 2003. Screening for delirium, dementia and depression in older adults. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario

Geriatrics

• 2007. Standards of medical care for older people: expectations and recommendations. British Geriatrics Society

• 2006. National guidelines for seniors' mental health. 4 documents: Delirium, Depression, Suicide, Behavioural symptoms in LTC. Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health 

Head and Brain Injuries

• 2007. Triage, assessment, investigation and early management of head injury in infants, children and adults. NICE
• 2006. Traumatic brain injury: diagnosis, acute management and rehabilitation. New Zealand Guidelines Group

HIV/AIDS

• BC HIV/AIDS therapeutic guidelines. BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
• Guidelines. International AIDS Society–USA
• HIV guidelines. New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute
• 2009. Guidelines for prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents. Recommendations from CDC et al. 216-page PDF download 
• 2009. Primary care HIV guidelines. Infectious Diseases Society of America

Housing

• Best practices guide. BC Non-Profit Housing Association
• 2000. Housing. [PDF, 100 pages] BC Mental Health and Addictions

Insomnia

• 2008. Adult conditioned insomnia: diagnosis and management. Toward Optimized Practice Program (Alberta)
• 2007. Adult conditioned insomnia: assessment to diagnosis. Toward Optimized Practice Program (Alberta) 
• 2006. Insomnia. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
• 2004. Newer hypnotic drugs for insomnia. NICE (UK)

Learning Disorders

• 2007. Mental health nursing of adults with learning disabilities. Royal College of Nursing (UK)
• 2007. Services for people with learning disability and challenging behaviour or mental health needs. Department of Health (UK)

Medicine

• Clinical practice guidelines and protocols in British Columbia. Ministry of Health Services
• Clinical guidelines. A collection published by the Medical Journal of Australia
• Clinical practice guidelines. Collected articles from CMAJ
• CMA INFOBASE. A database of Canadian clinical practice guidelines
• New Zealand Guidelines Group
• NICE: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (UK)
• Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network

• 2006. Choosing health: supporting the physical needs of people with severe mental illness - commissioning framework. [pdf, 38 pages] NICE
• 2006 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for: psychiatric evaluation of adults, second edition. American Psychiatric Association. Web page 
• Chief Psychiatrist's guidelines. Mental Health & Drugs Division, Victoria, Australia.
• Evidence-based practices: shaping mental health services toward recovery. Six toolkits developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Center for Mental Health Services.
• Mental health guidelines. Behavioral Health Recovery Management (University of Chicago Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation et al.)  
• Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithms (TIMA). Includes physician's manuals and patient education materials for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depressive disorder.

Nervous System Diseases

• American Academy of Neurology Practice Guidelines

Nursing

• Best practice guidelines. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario

• AANN clinical practice guideline series. American Association of Neuroscience Nurses

Obesity

• 2006 Canadian clinical practice guidelines on the management and prevention of obesity in adults and children. CMAJ. 2007; 176(8 suppl.): S1-13.

• Guidelines on overweight and obesity: electronic textbook. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (US)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

• 2008. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (Registration required)

Occupational Therapy

• 2007. Activity provision: benchmarking good practice in care homes. College of Occupational Therapists (UK). PDF, 69 pages

Panic Disorder

• 2009 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for treatment of patients with panic disorder. American Psychiatric Association. Website

• 2003. Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia. [PDF, 16 pages]

Personality disorders

• 2009. Antisocial personality disorder. NICE 

Pregnancy

• BC Perinatal Health Program
• Reproductive mental health
• Substance use guidelines
• 2009. The Management of Depression During Pregnancy: A Report from the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2009 Sept; 114(3):703-713. Ovid full text New
• 2002. Postnatal depression and puerperal psychosis. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.

• 2000. Psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery. [PDF, 64 pages] British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions.

Schizophrenia

• 2009. Schizophrenia: core interventions. NICE  
• 2007. Schizophrenia. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (Registration required)
• 2005. Treatment of schizophrenia. Canadian Psychiatric Association.
• 2004. The IPAP schizophrenia algorithm. International Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project. Registration required.
• 2004 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for treatment of patients with schizophrenia, second edition. American Psychiatric Association. Web page
• 2003. Summary Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guideline for the treatment of schizophrenia. Web page

Smoking Cessation

• 2008. US clinical practice guidelines, Office of the Surgeon General. Web page
• 2008. Excellence in tobacco control: 10 high impact changes to achieve tobacco control. Tobacco Control National Support Team (UK) Web page
• 2007. Tobacco free living in psychiatric settings. [PDF, 73 pages] National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
• 2007. New Zealand smoking cessation guidelines. Web page
• 2006. Smoking cessation. NICE
• 2003. Integrating smoking cessation into daily nursing practice. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.
• 2002. Guidelines for smoking cessation. New Zealand Guidelines Group  
• 2002. Smoking reduction and cessation for people with schizophrenia. Guidelines for general practitioners. Mental Health Services, Victoria (Australia)

Stress Disorders

• 2005. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). NICE
• 2004 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. American Psychiatric Association. Web page
• 1999. Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Expert consensus guidelines.

Substance-Related Disorders

• 2007. Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management. [PDF, 129 pages] Part of the NTA's site on Clinical Guidance.

• Statement on medication choice and dosing in drug misuse and treatment.

• 2007. Methadone and buprenorphine for managing opioid dependence. NICE

• 2007. Naltrexone for the management of opioid dependence. NICE

• 2007. Methadone maintenance guidelines. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

• 2007. Opioid dependence. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

• 2007. Alcohol - problem drinking. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

• 2006. Benzodiazepine and z drug withdrawal. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
• 2006. Detoxification and substance abuse treatment (TIP 45). SAMHSA.
• 2006 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for treatment of patients with substance use disorders, second edition. American Psychiatric Association. Web page 
• 2006. National clinical guidelines and procedures for the use of buprenorphine in the treatment of opioid dependence. Australia 
• 2006. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) program: urine drug testing of patients. BC Ministry of Health
• 2004. Clinical guidelines for the use of buprenorphine in the treatment of opioid addiction. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US)
• Addiction guidelines. Behavioral Health Recovery Management. (University of Chicago Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation et al.)
• Best practices in addiction treatment: a workshop facilitator's guide. Addiction Technology Transfer Center National Office (US)  
• Inhalant treatment guidelines. National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (US) 
• Treatment improvement protocols (TIPs). Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US)
• National voluntary consensus standards for the treatment of substance use conditions: evidence-based treatment practices. Published by the National Quality Forum (US) Summary

• Best practices registry for suicide prevention. A collaboration of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• 2007. Poisoning or overdose. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
• 2004. Self-harm: the short-term physical and psychological management and secondary prevention of self-harm in primary and secondary care. NICE
• 2003. Summary Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guideline for the management of adult deliberate self-harm. Web page
• 2003 + updates. Practice guideline + resources for the assessment and treatment of patients with suicidal behaviors. American Psychiatric Association. Web page
• 2003. The assessment and management of people at risk of suicide. [PDF, 96 pages] New Zealand Guidelines Group.
• 2003. RMF suicide guidelines. Risk Management Foundation of the Harvard Medical Institutions.

Violence

• 2007. Best practice in managing risk: principles and guidance for best practice in the assessment and management of risk to self and others in mental health services. Department of Health (UK)
• 2005. Violence: the short-term management of disturbed/violent behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings and emergency departments. NICE
• 2002. The recognition, prevention and therapeutic management of violence in acute in-patient psychiatry. A literature review and evidence-based recommendations for good practice. [PDF, 105 pages] Written by Steve Wright et al. for the United Kingdom Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.  

Page last modified or reviewed by Tracy Walsh, January 4, 2010