Clinical guidelines & publications library

Electroconvulsive therapy professional practice guideline

Electroconvulsive therapy & neurostimulation, Ethics, Professionalism

Key practice considerations are the combination of dosing, electrode placement, pulse width, session frequency, concomitant medication and anaesthetic approach. PDF Clinical guideline

Inquiry into aged care, end of life and palliative care, and voluntary assisted dying

Ethics, Voluntary assisted dying

RANZCP QLD Submission to Inquiry into aged care, end of life and palliative care, and voluntary assisted dying. PDF Submission

The relationship between psychiatrists and commercial organisations within the health care industry

Ethics, Professionalism

PDF Ethics and conduct

Guideline for safe care for patients sedated in health care facilities for acute behavioural disturbance

Sedation

This guideline sets the minimum safety standards required in caring for patients with ABD where sedation is used to control the behaviour. PDF Clinical guideline

Sexual orientation change efforts

Ethics, Historical practices, Professionalism

The RANZCP does not support the use of sexual orientation change efforts of any kind. There is no scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Sexual orientation change efforts risk causing significant harm to individuals.

Australian Family Court proceedings

Ethics, Forensic, Medico-legal, Professionalism

Guidance to members about family court proceedings including custody issues, being an expert witness, testifying and reports. PDF Clinical guideline

Productivity Commission draft report on veterans’ compensation and rehabilitation inquiry.

RANZCP Submission on veterans’ compensation and rehabilitation inquiry.

Mental health needs of child asylum seekers and refugees

Asylum seekers and refugees, Children & adolescents

This guideline was rescinded in April 2024.

The role of the child and adolescent psychiatrist

Addressing health inequity, Children & adolescents, Ethics, Professionalism

Guidance about the role of child and adolescent psychiatrists, and how they can best meet the mental health needs of young people and their families. PDF Clinical guideline

Abolition of torture and other inhuman treatment

Ethics, Professionalism, Trauma

Our commitment to the abolition of torture, and to researching and providing effective, evidence-based rehabilitative and therapeutic treatments to survivors.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Electroconvulsive therapy & neurostimulation, Professionalism

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for major depressive disorders. It involves the focal application of a localised, pulsed magnetic field to the cerebral cortex, inducing small electrical currents which stimulate nerve cells.

RANZCP Code of Ethics

Ethics, Professionalism

PDF Ethics and conduct

Mental health and HIV/AIDS

Ethics, Professionalism

People who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) can have unique mental health needs both due to the infection itself and the experience of anxiety and depression that can be associated with the condition.

Anxiety disorders clinical practice guideline

Anxiety disorders, Professionalism

This document is more than five years old and no longer considered current guidance. PDF

The relevance of religion and spirituality to psychiatric practice

Collaborative care, Ethics

This position statement provides guidance to psychiatrists on how consideration of religion and/or spirituality can improve outcomes for people living with mental illness.

Enabling supported decision making

Addressing health inequity, Collaborative care, Culturally safe practice, Families, whānau & carers, Professionalism

This paper aims to influence the increased uptake and future embedding of Supported Decision Making in clinical practice by psychiatrists working in the Victorian Mental Health Service. PDF Position statement

Electronic monitoring of people utilising forensic mental health services

Ethics, Forensic

The RANZCP is concerned about the coercive use of electronic monitoring on forensic patients. 

The impact of media and digital technology on children and adolescents

Children & adolescents, E-mental health, Professionalism

This position statement seeks to identify the many positive benefits of media and digital technology for children and adolescents, but also recognises areas of concern.

Mental health for the community

Collaborative care, Culturally safe practice, Ethics, Families, whānau & carers, Professionalism

This document outlines principles that underpin the effective delivery of mental health services to the community.

De-prescribing cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine

Dementia, Ethics, Professionalism

The RANZCP has endorsed this guideline produced by the University of Sydney Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre. URL Clinical guideline