Clinical practice guidelines for the psychotherapies

Abstract

This chapter examines the potential and problems of the application of clinical practice guidelines to the psychotherapies. The standard definition from the Institute of Medicine is that clinical practice guidelines are ‘systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances’. Clinical guidelines may be developed both by local groups of clinicians and by national bodies or agencies. There is evidence that locally produced guidelines are more likely to be followed, although nationally produced guidelines are more likely to be valid. Clinical practice guidelines are primarily advocated as a means of improving the effectiveness and appropriateness of health care. Clinical guidelines, in order to be effective, need to be acceptable to and reflect the views of patients. Clinical practice guidelines, in order to be valid and helpful for practitioners and patients, need to define correctly the clinical practices that lead to optimal health outcomes.