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Clinical Practice Guidelines

Clinical Practice Guideline - Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Treatment

Topic: Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Treatment Date of Origin: January 2007
Revised/Effective Date:  June 2009 Next Review Date: June 2010


Recommendation Summary:

Regence supports the use of practice guidelines to assist in determinations of the clinical appropriateness of treatment services provided for the mental health and chemical dependency disorders and conditions listed below. The practice guidelines describe generally accepted practices and were developed by nationally recognized organizations.

ADULTS:

CHILDREN/ADOLESCENTS:

Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias of Late Life (PDF)

Attention-Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (PDF)

Bipolar Disorder (PDF)

Anxiety Disorders (PDF)

Borderline Personality Disorder (PDF)

Autism/Other Development Disorders

Eating Disorders (PDF)

Bipolar Disorder (PDF)

Major Depressive Disorder (PDF)

Conduct Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (PDF)

Depressive Disorders (PDF)

Panic Disorder (PDF)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (PDF)

Substance Use Disorders (PDF)

Schizophrenia (PDF)

Suicidal Behaviors

Substance Use Disorders (PDF)

 

Suicidal Behaviors (PDF)

 

Key Points:

  • Regence endeavors to ensure that treatments provided to members are evidence-based and offer the greatest probability of a favorable outcome
  • The following practice guidelines addresses 20 specific disorders or conditions that have considerable impact on the psychiatric practice. These guidelines provide suggested practice guidance and reflect the most current standards of practice for the management and treatment of various behavior and mental health conditions.
Assessment

The guidelines reflect current practice standards for management and treatment for the specific conditions by nationally recognized medical associations.  Scientific evidence and references are provided to base recommendations, but methods that were used to systematically review and critically appraise the literature are not readily transparent.  Some the listed guidelines are not updated annually.  Therefore a crucial aspect in applying the guidelines is to ensure there is consideration of new or evolving research regarding established treatments/management. 

Guideline Sponsoring Organization Revised Date Well defined literature search a Critical Appraisal Methodsb Strength of evidence for recommendations clearly stated? c Sources of Funding d

Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias of Late Life

American Psychiatric Association

10/2007

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest disclosed. No other funding source provided.

Bipolar Disorder

American Psychiatric Association

04/2002 (update in 11/2005)

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Borderline Personality Disorder

American Psychiatric Association

10/2001 (update in 03/2005)

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Eating Disorders

American Psychiatric Association

June 2006

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Major Depressive Disorder

American Psychiatric Association

April 2000 (update in 09/2005)

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

American Psychiatric Association

July 2007

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest disclosed. No other funding source provided.

PTSD

American Psychiatric Association

November 2004

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Schizophrenia

American Psychiatric Association

February 2004

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Substance Use Disorders

American Psychiatric Association

August 2006 (Update in 04/2007)

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Suicidal Behaviors

American Psychiatric Association

November 2003

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

ADHD

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

July 2007

Criteria for literature search vague or not reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest disclosed. No other funding source provided.

Anxiety Disorders

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

February 2007

Criteria for literature search vague or not reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest disclosed. No other funding source provided.

Autism/Other Development Disorders

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

December 1999

Criteria for literature search vague or not reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Bipolar Disorder

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

January 2007

Criteria for literature search vague or not reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest disclosed. No other funding source provided.

Conduct Disorder

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

October 1997

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Depressive Disorders

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

2007 (in press)

Criteria for literature search vague or not reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest disclosed. No other funding source provided.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

October 1998

Criteria for literature search well defined and reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Substance Use Disorders

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

June 2005

Criteria for literature search vague or not reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

Suicidal Behaviors

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

July 2001

Criteria for literature search vague or not reproducible

Appraisal methods were not described.

Unclear when recommendation is based on clinical study evidence or on consensus opinion.

Conflicts of interest and/or funding sources were NOT provided

aRecommendations are based on a well-defined scientific literature search.
bWhat methods were used to critically appraise the evidence supporting guideline recommendations and how transparent were they.
cDo the guidelines clearly state the strength of the evidence for which recommendations are based.
dAre the sources of funding listed?
eRecommendations are given one of three grades: [I] Recommended with substantial clinical confidence, [II] Recommended with moderate clinical confidence, or [III] May be recommended on the basis of individual circumstances.  The criteria for assigning these grades is not transparent.

Guideline Adoption and Recommended Use:

These guidelines have been adopted based on nationally recognized sources.  This guideline is based on the most recent medical evidence or a consensus on clinical treatment patterns by physicians in the selected field of practice.  Regence adopts guidelines to help practitioners and members make decisions about appropriate health care for specific conditions.  Guidelines are not a substitute for professional medical advice.  

Benefit Determination: 

Benefit determinations should be based in all cases on the applicable contract language. To the extent that there are any conflicts between these guidelines and the contract language, the contract language will control.

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