Commencing in 2003, the RANZCP produced a series of clinical practice guidelines with funding from the Australian National Mental Health Strategy and New Zealand Ministry for Health. The most recent tranche of RANZCP clinical practice guidelines were produced on a self-commissioned and funded basis from 2014-2020.

The RANZCP’s guideline development work was made possible through the expert pro bono contribution of members who sought to address recognised gaps in evidence-based clinical guidance. This work has been invaluable in supporting the treatment and care of eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and deliberate self-harm.

Clinical practice guidelines require review and integration of the most current evidence to maintain their reliability as best-evidence decision-making tools. [1]

The guidelines listed below exceed the five-year period recognised by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) as a typical maximum use lifespan. [2] The documents will be removed from the RANZCP’s website shortly and can be accessed via their respective journal publications after this time:

• Andrews G, Bell C, Boyce P, Gale C, Lampe L, Marwat O, et al. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2018;52(12):1109-72. doi: 10.1177/0004867418799453
• Hay P, Chinn D, Forbes D, Madden S, Newton R, Sugenor L, et al. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of eating disorders. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2014;48(11):977-1008. doi: 10.1177/0004867414555814
• Galletly C, Castle D, Dark F, Humberstone V, Jablensky A, Killackey E, et al. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the management of schizophrenia and related disorders. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2016;50(5):410-72. doi: 10.1177/0004867416641195
• Carter G, Page A, Large M, Hetrick S, Milner AJ, Bendit N, et al. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guideline for the management of deliberate self-harm. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2016;50(10):939-1000. doi: 10.1177/0004867416661039

The RANZCP remains committed to ongoing advocacy to enable the co-development of NHMRC-standard guidelines via external funding and in partnership with leading external organisations. Opportunities for further guidance in these areas via the Best Practice Resources framework are being reviewed.

For further information please contact policy@ranzcp.org.

References

1. National Health Medical Research Council. 2016 NHMRC Standards for Guidelines 2016 [Available from: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelinesforguidelines/standards.]
2. National Health Medical Research Council. Procedures and requirements for meeting the NHMRC standards for clinical practice guidelines. Melbourne: National Health and Medical Research Council; 2020.