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