Evidence-based psychiatry

What is evidence-based psychiatry?

Evidence-based practice is a thorough, explicit, sensible and well-considered use of the best evidence in decision making regarding the examination and treatment of an individual patient. Good practitioners use their individual clinical expertise as well as the patient's preferences and the best external evidence. First, you formulate a clinical question based on the problem the patient presents. Next, you find external evidence that explores the problem. Then comes assessing the quality and relevance of the evidence and the process of implementing the evidence in clinical practice. The final step consists of an evaluation of the process implying the clinician’s evaluation of the effect on the patient and of his or her own efforts. Evidence-based practice also revolves offering the best method measured on a group of people with similar problems or disorders, considering the individual's prerequisites, wishes, needs, etc.