Evidence-based mental health

Three elements exist for the practice of evidence-based mental health: development of a question, evaluation consisting of search and appraisal of the applicable literature, and synthesis of the information in the context of an individual patient’s clinical care. This article discusses the three elements of evidence-based mental health and provides an illustrative example that describes how the process works. Search techniques, appraisal of the information, and use of simple techniques for understanding the magnitude of the effect are presented.