The Waco Guide to Psychopharmacology in Primary Care is a tool developed by faculty of the Waco Family Medicine Residency, in consultation with faculty of MGH Visiting through the Division of Professional and Public Education in the Department of Psychiatry, affiliated with Harvard Medical School
Tools combine top-level evidence and expert opinion from world-renowned psychiatrists with primary care expertise from one of the nation’s premier family medicine training programs.
This resource is ideal for primary care clinicians, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, as well as integrated behavioral health providers.
The tools succinctly reflect standard and advanced primary care mental health practices and psychopharmacology for:
• Adult
• Pediatric & Adolescent
• Geriatric
• Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health
• Substance Use Disorders
Special Population considerations offering individually tailored pharmacotherapy recommendations include:
• Obesity
• Cardiac Impairment
• Renal Impairment
• Hepatic Impairment
• Geriatric
Why use The Waco Guide?
• High-yield, evidence-based psychopharmacology
• In office usability at the point-of-care to enhance medical decision making
• Common language and framework for integrated and collaborative care practices
• Tools account for cost and medication availability
• Titration schedules, monitoring recommendations, and a list of side effects accompany each tool
Treatment recommendations for the following disorders:
Adult:
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders— Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Acute and Chronic Insomnia
• Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
• Acute Stress Disorder
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Antipsychotic Side Effect Management
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Fibromyalgia
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder
• Neuropsychiatric Dementia
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Tobacco Use Disorder
• ADHD
Pediatric & Adolescent Decision Support Tools
• ADHD
• Depression
• Generalized anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Psychosis
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Binge Eating
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Opioid Use Disorder
Perinatal (Preconception, Antepartum, and Postpartum)/Women’s Mental Health:
• Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
• SSRI-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
• Antepartum Tobacco Use Disorder
Substance Use Disorders:
• Alcohol Use Disorder
• Antepartum Alcohol Use Disorder
• Tobacco Use Disorder
• Benzodiazepine Deprescribing
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Stimulant Use Disorder
The decision support tools included are designed to be informational and to reflect current accepted practices at the time of publication. These tools are not intended to replace professional medical judgment or treatment of specific conditions. Heart of Texas Community Health Center (dba Waco Family Medicine) and the authors accept no responsibility for any damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses arising from use of the decision support tools contained herein. By using this app, you acknowledge that you have reviewed the above and accept these terms.
I’d pay all the money for this. But it’s free. Ya’ll are doin the Lord’s work over at Baylor/MGH. You all included lisdex in your stim use (meth specific) disorder algo and that’s all I needed to see. Thank you for not 100% regurgitating only prominent National guideline recs and being bold enough to incorporate other valuable sources of evidence into the decision tree. MANY, many thank you’s for the time and dedication spent and continued to be devoted towards maintaining such a fantastic tool.
A must have for psychopharm help
MDFaculty
This app has become my go-to for its quick, user-friendly interface and evidence based guidance on psychopharmacology at the point of care. It addresses multiple populations including pediatrics and adolescents as well as pregnancy and contexts involving multiple medical co-morbidities. Note it is not designed to serve as a diagnostic tool. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Great mental health guide/app
Big sad daddy
As with most “algorithmic” approaches to medical practice the user also needs to rely on their own comfort level and experiences along with an evidence based approach to therapy. This app seems to be cognizant of these facts. My experience with this app thus far is outstanding! Although I am a brand new user the ease of use is fantastic. Kudos to the clinicians that developed the Waco Guide.
Developer Response
Thanks for your feedback and the kudos!! We hope you find this useful in practice.
Great app!
Simeon K
I’m a family doctor in Houston boarded in palliative care as well. This app has been tremendously helpful for bipolar disorder. I can’t wait to see the extra features as they unroll to other conditions. Will save me much more time compared to scouring up to date. Thanks for making this app for docs like me.
Developer Response
I am glad the app has been helpful for your practice. Thanks for the feedback!
Strength of Recommendation (SOR) Now Available
View Strength of Recommendation details directly in the app. SORT tables are now displayed in-app (no PDFs), with clearer layout and improved readability.
Medication Switching & Discontinuation Updates
A new Discontinuation tool has been added alongside Switching. Easily toggle between switching and discontinuation for antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Improved accuracy and clearer medication states.
Expanded Clinical Content
• New Binge Eating (Adolescent) and Bulimia (Adolescent) content.
• Updates to Depressive Disorder (including multiple subtypes), Autism, Alcohol Use Disorder (antepartum), and Antipsychotic Management.
• Expanded and refreshed SORT tables across many disorders.
• Medication updates, including search by brand name.
Performance & Stability Improvements
• Fixed medication switching issues and content-related crashes.
• Improved error reporting and diagnostic support.
Version 8.7
The developer, McLennan County Medical Education and Research Foundation, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
McLennan County Medical Education and Research Foundation
Size
142.8 MB
Category
Medical
Compatibility
Requires iOS 13.6 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 13.6 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 13.6 or later.
iPod touch Requires iOS 13.6 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
