Guideline summary

New guidelines recommend shared decision making to reduce adverse drug reactions and medication burden, leading to improved quality of life in people with dementia

Emily Reeve · Barbara Farrell · Wade Thompson · Nathan Herrmann · Ingrid Sketris · Parker J Magin · Lynn Chenoweth · Mary Gorman · Lyntara Quirke · Graeme Bethune · Sarah N Hilmer

The THANZ guideline for the diagnosis and management of VTE has been developed by the VTE Working Group based on up‐to‐date evidence and using an evidence‐based approach. The guideline aims to promote optimal management of VTE. The extended version of the guideline can be found on the THANZ website (www.thanz.org.au/resources/thanz-guidelines).

Huyen A Tran · Harry Gibbs · Eileen Merriman · Jennifer L Curnow · Laura Young · Ashwini Bennett · Chee Wee Tan · Sanjeev D Chunilal · Chris M Ward · Ross Baker · Harshal Nandurkar

Food allergy has been increasing in incidence worldwide, with rates in Australia the highest in the world

Preeti A Joshi · Jill Smith · Sandra Vale · Dianne E Campbell

Updated pregnancy care guidelines provide new recommendations regarding hepatitis C and vitamin D testing and maternal weight gain management

Caroline SE Homer · Jeremy Oats · Philippa Middleton · Jenny Ramson · Samantha Diplock

The revised colorectal cancer screening guidelines recommend screening modality based on risk according to age and family history

Mark A Jenkins · Driss Ait Ouakrim · Alex Boussioutas · John L Hopper · Hooi C Ee · Jon D Emery · Finlay A Macrae · Albert Chetcuti · Laura Wuellner · D James B St John

Atrial fibrillation is increasing in prevalence and associated with significant morbidity and mortality

David Brieger · John Amerena · John R Attia · Beata Bajorek · Kim H Chan · Cia Connell · Ben Freedman · Caleb Ferguson · Tanya Hall · Haris M Haqqani · Jeroen Hendriks · Charlotte M Hespe · Joseph Hung · Jonathan M Kalman · Prashanthan Sanders · John Worthington · Tristan Yan · Nicholas A Zwar

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome that is secondary to an abnormality of cardiac structure or function

John J Atherton · Andrew Sindone · Carmine G De Pasquale · Andrea Driscoll · Peter S MacDonald · Ingrid Hopper · Peter Kistler · Tom G Briffa · James Wong · Walter P Abhayaratna · Liza Thomas · Ralph Audehm · Phillip J Newton · Joan O'Loughlin · Cia Connell · Maree Branagan

Updated guidelines for melanoma excision margins promote optimal practical management of primary cutaneous melanoma

Michael J Sladden · Omgo E Nieweg · Julie Howle · Brendon J Coventry · John F Thompson

Introduction: In December 2015, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists published a comprehensive set of mood disorder clinical practice guidelines for psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health professionals. This guideline summary, directed broadly at primary care physicians, is an abridged version that focuses on bipolar disorder. It is intended as an aid to the management of this complex disorder for primary care physicians working in collaboration with psychiatrists to implement successful long term management. Main recommendations: The guidelines address the main phases of bipolar disorder with a particular emphasis on long term management, and provide specific clinical recommendations. Mania: All physicians should be able to detect its early signs so that treatment can be initiated promptly. At the outset, taper and cease medications with mood-elevating properties and institute measures to reduce stimulation, and transfer the patient to specialist care. Bipolar depression: Treatment is complicated and may require trialling treatment combinations. Monotherapy with mood-stabilising agents or second generation antipsychotics has demonstrated efficacy but using combinations of these agents along with antidepressants is sometimes necessary to achieve remission. Commencing adjunctive structured psychosocial treatments in this phase is benign and likely effective. Long term management: Physicians should adjust treatment to prevent the recurrence of manic and/or depressive symptoms and optimise functional recovery. Closely monitor the efficacy of pharmacological and psychological treatments, adverse effects and compliance. Changes in management as a result of the guidelines: The guidelines position bipolar disorder as part of a spectrum of mood disorders and provide a longitudinal perspective for assessment and treatment. They provide new management algorithms for the maintenance phase of treatment that underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring to achieve prophylaxis. As a first line treatment, lithium remains the most effective medication for the prevention of relapse and potential suicide, but requires nuanced management from both general practitioners and specialists. The guidelines provide clarity and simplicity for the long term management of bipolar disorder, incorporating the use of new medications and therapies alongside established treatments.

Gin S Malhi · Tim Outhred · Grace Morris · Philip M Boyce · Richard Bryant · Paul B Fitzgerald · Malcolm J Hopwood · Bill Lyndon · Roger Mulder · Greg Murray · Richard J Porter · Ajeet B Singh · Kristina Fritz

New guidelines promote a broader approach to the diagnosis and management of depression

Gin S Malhi · Tim Outhred · Amber Hamilton · Philip M Boyce · Richard Bryant · Paul B Fitzgerald · Bill Lyndon · Roger Mulder · Greg Murray · Richard J Porter · Ajeet B Singh · Kristina Fritz

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and chronic airflow limitation, and is associated with exacerbations and comorbidities

Ian A Yang · Juliet L Brown · Johnson George · Sue Jenkins · Christine F McDonald · Vanessa M McDonald · Kirsten Phillips · Brian J Smith · Nicholas A Zwar · Eli Dabscheck

New guidelines provide greater emphasis on atypical presentations of melanoma

Victoria J Mar · Alex J Chamberlain · John W Kelly · William K Murray · John F Thompson

New guidelines classify PEI as definite, possible or unlikely, and provide a diagnostic algorithm for early diagnosis and management

Australasian Pancreatic Club Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy Guidelines Working Group

This update to the 2005 RANZCP guidelines has a greater emphasis on psychosocial treatments, physical health comorbidities and vocational rehabilitation

David J Castle · Cherrie A Galletly · Frances Dark · Verity Humberstone · Vera A Morgan · Eóin Killackey · Jayashri Kulkarni · Patrick McGorry · Olav Nielssen · Nga T Tran · Assen Jablensky

An update to the 2009 guidelines

Nadia J Chaves · Georgia A Paxton · Beverley-Ann Biggs · Aesen Thambiran · Joanne Gardiner · Jan Williams · Mitchell M Smith · Joshua S Davis

Part 2 of a position statement to update the 2000 guidelines and inform the recommended management of men with androgen deficiency

Bu B Yeap · Mathis Grossmann · Robert I McLachlan · David J Handelsman · Gary A Wittert · Ann J Conway · Bronwyn GA Stuckey · Douglas W Lording · Carolyn A Allan · Jeffrey D Zajac · Henry G Burger

An updated guideline providing a synthesis of current evidence-based guidance for health professionals caring for patients with ACS

Derek P Chew · Ian A Scott · Louise Cullen · John K French · Tom G Briffa · Philip A Tideman · Stephen Woodruffe · Alistair Kerr · Maree Branagan · Philip EG Aylward

Updated recommendations from the National Heart Foundation take into account the findings of recent meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials

Genevieve M Gabb · Arduino A Mangoni · Craig S Anderson · Diane Cowley · John S Dowden · Jonathan Golledge · Graeme J Hankey · Faline S Howes · Les Leckie · Vlado Perkovic · Markus Schlaich · Nicholas A Zwar · Tanya L Medley · Leonard Arnolda