Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health Accessing, Appraising, and Adopting Research Data

Recent calls for improvements in the quality of health care for mental and substance use conditions have emphasized the importance of applying existing knowledge to practice. Referred to by various terms, the basic concept of evidence-based practice is being promoted increasingly to bridge the gap between what is known and what is done in clinical practice. However, the demands of everyday work on clinicians, as well as the professional isolation that often characterizes independent practice, can make it difficult for wouldbe adopters of relevant evidence to know the best ways to stay current with potentially important developments in clinical research. This article describes specific strategies and resources for clinicians interested in accessing, appraising, and adopting clinical research findings to their professional settings.