Understanding Evidence-Based Practices for Co-Occurring Disorders: Overview Paper 5
Description:
The advantages of employing evidence-based practices are now widely acknowledged across the medical, substance abuse, and mental health fields. This paper discusses evidence-based practices and their use in treating persons with co-occurring disorders, discusses how evidence is used to determine if a given practice should be labeled as evidence based, and gives some brief examples. (Authors)
Content:
The advantages of employing evidence-based practices (EBPs) (see Table 1, Key Definitions) are now widely acknowledged across the medical, substance abuse (SA), and mental health (MH) fields. This overview paper discusses EBPs and their role in the treatment of co-occurring disorders (COD). Practitioners seldom have as much evidence as they would like about the best clinical approach to use in any given clinical situation. To choose the optimal approach for each client, clinicians must draw on research, theory, practical experience, and a consideration of client perspectives. Picking the best option at the moment using the best information available has been termed “evidence-based thinking” (Hyde et al., 2003) (see Table 1, Key Definitions). This paper discusses EBPs and their use in treating persons with COD, discusses how evidence (see Table 1, Key Definitions) is used to determine if a given practice should be labeled as evidence based, and gives some brief examples of EBPs for COD. There is still considerable debate concerning how EBPs should be defined. This paper presents various points of view and offers COCE’s perspective as a starting point for further discussion by the field. (SAMHSA)
Type of Resource:
Government Document
Organization:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Publication #:
(SMA) 07-4278
Date Issued:
2007
Location:
Rockville, MD
Phone:
301-951-3369