title: A survey of psychiatrists' attitudes toward treatment guidelines.
abstract: We developed a survey to look at psychiatrists' attitudes toward psychotropic prescribing guidelines, specifically the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP) algorithms. The 22-page survey was distributed to 24 psychiatrists working in 4 CMHC's; 13 completed the survey. 90% agreed that guidelines should be general and flexible. The majority also agreed that guidelines should define how to measure response to a specific agent; fewer agreed guidelines should specify dosage, side effect management, or augmentation strategies. Psychiatrists were familiar with TMAP; none referred to it in their practice. In spite of this, psychiatrists' medication preferences were similar to those suggested by guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor 48109-0020, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Florence
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Milner
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires