Consensus Statement: Evidence-based practice decision-making for mental and behavioral health care

Evidence-based practice of mental and behavioral health care is an ongoing, collaborative approach to making decisions about services, which includes the following components:

1) Evidence-based practice begins with consideration of the best available basic and applied empirical research evidence when making decisions about mental and behavioral health services.

The limitations of the available empirical evidence are also considered, especially given contextual factors such as developmental level, community/cultural needs, the settings in which the services occur, barriers to services, and the strengths and assets of individuals and communities. The limitations of the evidence base, however, do not impede the retention or adaptation of principles and techniques from the empirical evidence that remain relevant and applicable after consideration of the limitations.

2) Evidence-based practice includes ongoing measurement and evaluation of the impact of services and, if necessary, outcome-informed adjustments to services that are intended to maximize their effectiveness.

3) Providers serve as a guide for collaborative decision-making in evidence-based practice, integrating different sources of information, including recipients’ values and preferences, as well as the provider’s competence and the organization’s capacity to provide effective services.

Endorsing Associations

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Academy for Eating Disorders
Academy of Cognitive Therapy
Academy of Psychological Clinical Science
American Counseling Association
American Psychological Association
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers
Coalition for the Advancement and Application of Psychological Science
Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology
Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology
Council on Social Work Education
Developmental Psychology
Family Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders
Hispanic Latin American Chapter, Academy for Eating Disorders
Indians into Psychology Doctoral Education
International Society for Research in Child & Adolescent Psychopathology
Middle East Eating Disorders Association
National Association of School Psychologists
Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice
Society for Clinical Neuropsychology
Society for Couple and Family Psychology
Society for Health Psychology
Society for Military Psychology
Society for Prevention Research
Society for Research in Child Development
Society for Research on Adolescence
Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy
Society of Behavioral Medicine
Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Society of Clinical Psychology
Society of Pediatric Psychology
State of Hawaii’s Evidence-Based Services Committee

Note. Measurement is meant to include the broad range of approaches available to systematically assess whether the services being offered are effective, and is not limited to rating scales alone.

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