WHO Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Disorders Guideline Summary - Guideline Central
Alcohol use disorders
Anxiety
Child and adolescent mental disorders
Conditions related to stress
Dementia
Depression
Drug use disorders
Epilepsy and seizures
Overarching areas
Psychosis and bipolar disorder
Self-harm and suicide
Document Overview

Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Disorders

World Health Organization


Publication Date: Nov 20, 2023

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-Based Recommendations

Implications for:Strong Recommendation (S)Conditional Recommendation (C)
PatientsMost individuals in this situation would want the recommended course of action, and only a small proportion would not.The majority of individuals in this situation would want the suggested course of action, but many would not.
CliniciansMost individuals should receive the intervention. Adherence to this recommendation according to the guideline could be used as a quality criterion or performance indicator. Formal decision aids are not likely to be needed to help individuals make decisions consistent with their values and preferences.Recognize that different choices will be appropriate for individual patients and that you must help each patient arrive at a management decision consistent with his or her values and preferences. Decision aids may be useful in helping individuals to make decisions consistent with their values and preferences.
PolicyThe recommendation can be adopted as policy in most situations.Policymaking will require substantial debate and involvement of various stakeholders.
Certainty in the Evidence
HighHLowL
ModerateMVery LowVL

Source: Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group (Schunemann HJ et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006;174:605-14. Guyatt GH et al. BMJ 2008;336:924-6).

Document Overview

Document Title
Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Disorders
Authoring Society

World Health Organization

Document Publication Date
Nov 20, 2023
Page Last Reviewed/Updated
May 5, 2026
Document Type
Guideline
Country of Publication
Global
Full Text Freely Available
Yes
Full Text Guideline
www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240084278
Source Citation

Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) guideline for mental, neurological and substance use disorders. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives

The mhGAP guideline supports countries to strengthen capacity to deal with the growing burden of mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) conditions and narrow the treatment gap. This new edition includes 30 updated and 18 new recommendations, alongside 90 pre-existing recommendations. This is the third iteration of the guideline and reflects 15 years of investment in the mhGAP programme. The revised recommendations ensure that mhGAP continues to offer high-quality, timely, transparent, and evidence-based guidance to support non-specialist health workers in low-income and middle-income countries in providing treatment and care to individuals with MNS conditions.

Scope
Assessment and Screening, Counseling, Diagnosis, Management, Prevention, Treatment
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D003863 - Depression

D004827 - Epilepsy

D019958 - Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders

D001289 - Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

D001007 - Anxiety

D008603 - Mental Health

D019966 - Substance-Related Disorders

D012559 - Schizophrenia

D001523 - Mental Disorders

D016320 - Substance Abuse Treatment Centers

D001714 - Bipolar Disorder

D000428 - Alcohol Drinking

D003156 - Community Mental Health Services

D003863 - Depression

D004827 - Epilepsy

D019958 - Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders

D001289 - Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

D001007 - Anxiety

D008603 - Mental Health

D019966 - Substance-Related Disorders

D012559 - Schizophrenia

D001523 - Mental Disorders

D016320 - Substance Abuse Treatment Centers

D001714 - Bipolar Disorder

D000428 - Alcohol Drinking

D003156 - Community Mental Health Services

Keywords
ADHD, Mental health, Substance use disorders, alcohol, anxiety, bipolar, bipolar disorder, depression, epilepsy, schizophrenia
Target Patient Population
All patients with mental health or substance use disorders
Target Provider Population
Non-specialized health workers at primary- or secondary-level healthcare facilities
Inclusion Criteria
Male, Female, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Older Adult
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Hospital, Long Term Care, Outpatient
Intended Users
Addiction Treatment Specialist, Counselor, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant, Psychologist

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Number of Source Documents
220
Includes peer/external review process?
Yes
Includes public comment process?
No
Methodologist involvement?
Yes
Patient involvement?
Yes
Includes multi-disciplinary group?
Yes
Includes systematic review?
Yes
Grades quality of strength of evidence?
Yes
Grades quality of strength of recommendation?
Yes
Discloses funding source?
Yes
Discloses conflicts of interest?
Yes
Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?
No
You rely on Guideline Central for transparency

Guideline Central and select third party use “cookies” on this website to enhance the user experience.

This technology helps us gather statistical and analytical information to optimize the relevant content for you.

The user also has the option to opt-out which may have an effect on the browsing experience.