Texas Medication Algorithm Project: definitions, rationale, and methods to develop medication algorithms.

BACKGROUND: The Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP), a public-academic collaborative effort, is a 3-phase project to develop, implement, and evaluate medication treatment algorithms for public sector patients with schizophrenia, major depressive disorders, or bipolar disorders. DISCUSSION: This paper, the first in a series describing the activities of the TMAP, focuses on the various definitions and reasons why guidelines have gained popularity. Also discussed are their strengths, the limitations of the various methods used to develop them, and potential barriers to their implementation.