Evidence-Based Practices: Shaping Mental Health Services Toward Recovery

Implementation Resource Kit User's Guide

Background

What are "evidence-based practices"?

Evidence-based practices are services for people with severe mental illness (consumers) that have demonstrated positive outcomes in multiple research studies.

Over the past 15 years, researchers in mental health service systems have gathered extensive data to support the effectiveness of several psychosocial and pharmacological treatments. In 1998, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation convened a consensus panel of researchers, clinicians, administrators, consumers, and family advocates to discuss the research and to determine which practices currently demonstrated a strong evidence base. This project is an offshoot of these efforts.

The six evidence-based practices:

Six practices were identified as currently demonstrating a strong evidence base:

standardized pharmacological treatment
illness management and recovery skills
supported employment
family psychoeducation
assertive community treatment
integrated dual disorders treatment (substance use and mental illness)

Other evidence-based practices for the treatment of persons with severe mental illnesses are being identified and will be promoted as the research evolves. This project is only a beginning attempt to establish models and procedures. This list of identified practices is not intended to be complete or exclusive. There should be many evidence-based practices in the future. Some promising practices being researched currently include peer support programming, supported housing, trauma services, and treatment for people with borderline personality disorder.

What is an implementation resource kit?

An implementation resource kit is a set of materials-written documents, videotapes, PowerPoint presentations, and a website-that support implementation of a particular treatment practice.

Specific materials in this resource kit have been developed for each of the key stakeholder groups involved in the implementation effort:

consumers of mental health services
family members and other supporters
practitioners and clinical supervisors
program leaders of mental health programs
public mental health authorities

Research has shown that providing practice guidelines to practitioners alone does not change practice. Change is most likely to occur and be sustained if all the major stakeholders in the mental health system are engaged and involved in the process of change. Therefore the materials and guidelines in this implementation resource kit are geared toward five different stakeholder groups. The materials for each specific stakeholder group were either written by representatives of that group or in close collaboration with them.

The resource kit materials are also designed to address three stages of change:

engaging and motivating for change (why do it)
developing skills and supports to implement change (how to do it)
sustaining the change (how to maintain and extend the gains)

What is an implementation package?

An implementation package is a set of implementation materials (the resource kit) combined with complementary training and consultation that support implementation of the evidence-based practice. The resource kit materials are designed to be most effective when used with consultative and training services. As part of the Implementing Evidence-Based Practices Project, EBP implementation centers are being established in various states across the country to provide consultation and training (see www.mentalhealthpractices.org).

How was this implementation resource kit developed?

A team made up of multiple stakeholders developed each resource kit: researchers, clinicians, program managers and administrators, consumers, and family members. Documents oriented toward specific stakeholder groups were either written by the stakeholders or in close collaboration with them. A consensus panel, also comprised of multiple stakeholders, reviewed the materials developed for all of the six implementation resource kits to ensure consistency of presentation and attention to the various perspectives of the different constituencies.

For more information

For a more detailed discussion of the project and the implementation strategies, refer to the enclosed Psychiatric Services articles:

Drake RE, Goldman HH, Leff HS, et al: Implementing evidence-based practices in routine mental health service settings. Psychiatric Services 52:179-182, 2001.

Torrey WC, Drake RE, Dixon L, et al: Implementing evidence-based practices for persons with severe mental illnesses. Psychiatric Services 52:45-50, 2001.

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