A decade of published evidence for psychiatric and mental health nursing interventions

Current psychiatric nursing practice remains grounded in tradition, unsystematic trial and error, and authority. Although some of the wisdom that has been passed down over time is questionable, it continues to influence nursing practice today. This state-of-the-evidence review examined features of intervention studies published between January 2006 and December 2010 in five psychiatric nursing journals; it compared findings with those from a previous study of comparable literature published between 2000 and 2005. The analysis included studies that evaluated strategies, procedures, or practices that promote mental health or prevent mental illness. Of the 553 data-based articles, 71% tested interventions; 54% were conducted in the United States. Intervention studies reflected psychological (38%) social (17%), and biological (1%) dimensions of the biopsychosocial model. Some studies involved two dimensions and 17% included all three dimensions. Studies involved nurses, students, or staff (15%), mentally ill (50%), or mentally healthy persons (35%) ranging in age from childhood through older adulthood. The 10 year review showed continuing progress toward increased dissemination compared to earlier years; less focus on nurses, students, and staff; an increase in international studies; and greater emphasis on holistic interventions. In this article, the authors note a need for more randomized, controlled trials and studies to compare effectiveness across interventions.