Development Process
APA practice guidelines are intended to aid clinical decision-making and improve patient care. A practice guideline is not a “standard of care.” The ultimate judgment regarding a particular clinical procedure or treatment plan must be made by the psychiatrist in light of the clinical data presented by the patient and the diagnostic and treatment options available. For more detail, see the Statement of Intent that prefaces every APA guideline.
APA practice guidelines are developed by expert work groups, who review available evidence using an explicit methodology. Iterative drafts undergo wide review by other experts, allied organizations, and the APA membership. Every guideline is also reviewed and approved for publication by the APA Assembly and Board of Trustees. The development of APA practice guidelines has not been financially supported by any commercial organization. For more detail, see APA Guideline Development Process (updated May 2006) (PDF).
Development of APA practice guidelines is directed by APA’s Steering Committee on Practice Guidelines and staffed within the APA Department of Quality Improvement and Psychiatric Services.
APA Steering Committee on Practice Guidelines
Joel Yager, M.D., Chair
James E. Nininger, M.D., Vice-Chair
Daniel J. Anzia, M.D.
Molly T. Finnerty, M.D.
Francis G. Lu, M.D.
James E. Nininger, M.D.
Barbara Schneidman, M.D.
Paul Summergrad, M.D.
Michael J. Vergare, M.D.
Sherwyn M. Woods, M.D., Ph.D.
Liaisons and Fellows
M. Justin Coffey, M.D.
Sheila Hafter Gray, M.D.
Kristen Ochoa, M.D.
Jeremy Wilkinson, M.D.
Medical Editor
Laura J. Fochtmann, M.D.
Staff
Robert Kunkle, M.A., Director, Practice Guidelines Project
Robert M. Plovnick, M.D., M.S., Director, Department of Quality Improvement and Psychiatric Services
Darrel A. Regier, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Division of Research