The AACAP has published 25 Practice Parameters. The Parameters are published as Official Actions of the AACAP in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Summaries and full text parameters are available below.
The AACAP Practice Parameters are designed to assist clinicians in providing high quality assessment and treatment that is consistent with the best available scientific evidence and clinical consensus. The Practice Parameters describe generally accepted practices, but are not intended to define a standard of care, nor should they be deemed inclusive of all proper methods of care or exclusive of other legitimate methods of care directed at obtaining the desired results. The ultimate judgment regarding the care of a patient and family must be made by the clinician in light of all of the clinical evidence presented by the patient and family, the diagnostic and treatment options available, and available resources.
Before approval by the Council, each Parameter draft is reviewed several times by the members of the Work Group on Quality Issues, co-chaired by Heather Walter, M.D. and Oscar Bukstein, M.D. In addition, the drafts are reviewed by experts in the respective subject areas and by the AACAP general membership.
Four New Practice Parameters are Ready for Member Review!
Join us at the Practice Parameter Member Forum!
- Practice Parameter for the Psychiatric Assessment and Management of Physically Ill Children and Adolescents
Lucienne Cahen, M.D., D. Richard Martini, M.D., and David DeMaso, M.D. - Practice Parameter for Telepsychiatry with Children and Adolescents
Kathleen Myers, M.D., M.P.H. and Sharon Cain, M.D. - Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Fred Volkmar, M.D., Marc Woodbury-Smith, M.D., Bryan King, M.D., James McCracken, M.D., and Matthew State, M.D., Ph.D. - Practice Parameter for the Use of Antipsychotic Medications in Children and Adolescents
Robert Findling, M.D., Stacy Drury, M.D., Ph.D., Peter Jensen, M.D., and Judith Rapoport, M.D.
Each parameter will be presented at the AACAP Annual Meeting in San Diego at the Member Forum on Friday, October 27, from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.. To download and print out the parameters for review before the Annual Meeting, please go to Members Only. Login, and click on Member Resources to view the parameters. Click here to go to Members Only.
The Work Group welcomes comments on the parameters and their applicability to clinical practice. In addition, members who would like to suggest topics for future parameters are welcome to comment. Direct comments or questions to Jennifer Medicus at jmedicus@aacap.org, or 202.966.7300, x137.
ADHD (P-ADD)
Vol. 36, Sept. 1997 (Summary)
**Vol. 36, Oct. 1997 Sup. (Full Text)
Anxiety Disorders (P-ANX)
**In Press (2006)
Assessment of a Child and Adolescent (P-PSY)
Vol. 36, Sept. 1997 (Summary)
**Vol. 36, Oct. 1997 Sup
Assessment of Infants and Toddlers (P-INF)
Vol. 36, Oct. 1997 Sup. (Summary)
**Vol. 36, Oct. 1997 Sup.
Autism (P-AUT)
Vol. 38, Dec. 1999 (Summary)
**Vol. 38, Dec. 1999 Sup.
Bipolar (P-BIP)
**In Press (2006)
Child Custody Evaluation (P-CUS)
Vol. 36, Dec. 1997 (Summary)
**Vol. 36, Oct. 1997 Sup.
Community Systems of Care
**In Press
Conduct Disorders (P-CON)
Vol. 36, Oct. 1997 (Summary)
**Vol. 36, Oct. 1997 Sup
Depressive Disorders (P-DEP)
Vol. 37, Nov. 1998 (Summary)
**Vol. 37, Oct. 1998 Sup.
Electroconvulsive Therapy With Adolescents (P-ECT)
Vol. 43, Dec. 2004 (Summary)
**Vol. 43, Dec. 2004
Enuresis, Children and Adolescents With (P-ENU)
Vol. 43, Dec. 2004 (Summary)
**Vol. 43, Dec. 2004
Forensic Evaluation for Children/Adolescents Who May Have Been Sexually Abused (P-FOR)
Vol. 36, Mar, 1997 (Summary)
**Vol. 36, Oct. 1997 Sup.
Language/Learning Disorders (P-LLD)
Vol. 37, Oct. 1998 (Summary)
**Vol. 37, Oct. 1998 Sup.
Mental Retardation (P-MEN)
Vol. 38, Dec. 1999 (Summary)
**Vol. 38, Dec. 1999 Sup.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (P-OCD)
Vol. 37, Oct. 1998 (Summary)
**Vol. 37, Oct. 1998 Sup.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
**In Press
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (P-PTS)
Vol. 37, Sep. 1998 (Summary)
**Vol. 37, Oct. 1998 Sup.
Psychiatric Consultation to Schools (P-PCS)
**Vol. 44, Oct. 2005
**accompanying tables
Reactive Attachment Disorder (P-RAD)
**Vol. 44, Nov. 2005
Schizophrenia (P-SCH)
Vol. 39, Dec. 2000 (Summary)
**Vol. 40, Jul. 2001 Sup.
Seclusion and Restraint (P-SCL)
Vol. 40, Nov. 2001 (Summary)
**Vol. 41, Feb. 2002 Sup.
Sexually Abusive Children (P-SAB)
Vol. 39, Jan. 2000 (Summary)
**Vol. 38, Dec. 1999 Sup.
Stimulant Medications (P-STM)
Vol. 40, Nov. 2001 (Summary)
**Vol. 41, Feb. 2002 Sup.
Substance Use (2004) (P-SUB)
**Vol. 44, June 2005
Suicidal Behavior (P-SUI)
Vol. 40, Apr. 2001 (Summary)
**Vol. 40, July 2001 Sup.
**Suicide Tables
Youth in Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities (P-YJD)
**Vol. 44, Oct. 2005
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