Algorithms in clinical psychiatry: a stepped approach toward the path to recovery.

The use of clinical practice guidelines and treatment algorithms has become increasingly prevalent across all fields of medicine. The Texas Medication Algorithm Project has developed algorithms for major depressive disorder to facilitate clinical decision-making by providing physicians with a detailed, yet concise, summary of current clinical data on available pharmacotherapeutic interventions, together with specific treatment strategies and tactical recommendations. The goal of the algorithm is the attainment of full and sustainable remission of symptoms. Clinical experts, practitioners, and administrators, as well as patients and their families, all contributed to the formulation and implementation of the algorithm in order to ensure an optimum level of effectiveness and practicality. It is hoped that algorithm-driven pharmacotherapy of depression will increase the quality of care, leading to improved patient outcomes, reducing unnecessary practice variation, and increasing the overall cost-effectiveness of treatment intervention.