CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES

We appreciate the thoughtfulness with which Drs. Szatmari and March read the AACAP practice parameters most recently published in the Journal. However, previously published parameters do not fully reflect key changes the AACAP Work Group on Quality Issues (WGQI) has made during the past year in the parameter development process. These changes, which will not become fully apparent until forthcoming parameters are published, have been made to bring the parameters in closer alignment with “guidelines for guidelines” published by various professional organizations, including The AGREE Collaboration, 2001 The AGREE Collaboration Appraisal of guidelines research and evaluation. Available at: http://www.agreecollaboration.orgDate: 2001 Google Scholar noted above, as well as the American Medical Association, 2007 American Medical Association (2007), Policy H-410-968: criteria and process to evaluate clinical practice guidelines. Available at: http://www.ama-assn.org. Accessed February 1, 2007 Google Scholar , whose guidelines have guided the development of the AACAP parameters. The “guidelines for guidelines” cohere around several fundamental principles, as noted in their letter. The Instructions for Authors of AACAP practice parameters, developed by members of the WGQI and available through the AACAP Office of Clinical Affairs, provide specific guidance to parameter authors around adherence to these principles. Because in their letter Drs. Szatmari and March express specific concerns pertaining to the “rigor of development” principle, we delineate here the specific changes we have made in that area.