Use of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Within Adult Community Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Solution-focused brief therapy is a growing practice within adult community mental health that focuses on enhancing the person's sense of hope in achieving their desired outcome. The aim of this scoping review was to better understand the breadth of empirical literature related to the use of solution-focused brief therapy in community adult mental health practices.

We conducted a scoping review according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PsychINFO, MEDLINE and CINAHL were searched on 3rd February 2025. Original research papers focusing on adults receiving solution-focused brief therapy in a community mental health context that were published in English were included. Studies in emergency departments, general practice, or inpatient mental health units were excluded. The following characteristics of each study were extracted: author(s), year, design, country, aims, population, intervention tested, outcomes measured and major findings.

After removal of duplicates, the search returned 1468 citations. Of these, 20 studies were identified. Study designs included randomised trials, quasi-experimental studies, observational studies and qualitative narrative analysis. All studies demonstrated the effectiveness of the use of solution-focused brief therapy within adult community mental health settings, achieving positive health outcomes. In some randomised trials, a more rapid or more effective response was found when compared with other interventions.

This scoping review mapped the empirical evidence available for the use of solution-focused brief therapy in adult community mental health settings. A small number of empirical investigations were identified overall. Solution-focused brief therapy was associated with positive outcomes across various domains including psychiatric symptoms and improving psychosocial functioning. More empirical research focusing on process, comparative studies and broader populations within adult community mental health would strengthen the evidence base and generalisability of solution-focused brief therapy.