Implementing Evidence-Based Treatments for Youth in Acute and Intensive Treatment Settings

Evidence-based treatments (EBTs) have been well studied in outpatient and research settings to address a myriad of mental health concerns. Research studies have found benefits and challenges when implementing these interventions. However, less is known about the implementation of EBTs in acute and intensive treatment settings such as inpatient psychiatric hospitalization (IPH) units, partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), or intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). As a result, the specific benefits and challenges of providing EBTs in these settings are less clear. For example, challenges of implementing EBTs in IPHs, PHPs, and IOPs can include working within a multi-disciplinary team setting and sustaining trained staff. The current article provides an overview of implementing EBTs in IPHs PHPs, and IOPs. Current PHP, IOP, and IPH models of implementing evidence-based interventions along with strategies for engaging stakeholders, program development and implementation, and measurement are reviewed. Further considerations for sustainability and practice consideration are also provided.