EBM in practice: psychiatry.
Psychiatry was one of the first medical specialties to use the tools of evidence-based medicine (EBM)--randomised controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews with meta-analyses--and as many treatment decisions in psychiatry are evidence-based as in general medicine. Psychiatrists have some reservations about the EBM approach because of perceived limitations in methodology of RCTs and systematic reviews; gaps in the evidence base; problems interpreting the available evidence; and neglect of individual patient uniqueness in quantitative research based on groups or populations. Research supports the value of psychotherapy and there are now a number of empirically validated efficacious psychotherapies for a range of disorders.
Oakley-Browne
M A
MA
Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand. m.oakley-browne@auckland.ac.nz
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D011570:Psychiatry