Gregory J. McHugo talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's Fast Breaking Paper in the field of
Psychiatry/Psychology.
Article Title: Fidelity outcomes in the national
implementing evidence-based practices
project
Authors: McHugo,
GJ;Drake, RE;Whitley, R;Bond, GR;Campbell, K;Rapp,
CA;Goldman, HH;Lutz, WJ;Finnerty, MT
Journal: PSYCHIATR SERVICES
Volume: 58
Issue: 10
Page: 1279-1284
Year: OCT 2007
* Dartmouth Psychiat Res Ctr, 2 Whipple Pl,Ste 202,
Lebanon, NH 03766 USA.
(addresses have been truncated)
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
The pressure is on around the country to implement evidence-based practices
in mental health. Our paper is among the first to report on a widespread
attempt to implement evidence-based practices in routine mental health
agencies.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
"The Dartmouth Psychiatric Research
Center has developed and disseminated
evidence-based practices for 20
years..."
Not really. However, it is unusual in scope, in that the research was
conducted at over 50 mental health agencies in eight states.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper in
layman's terms?
We learned that it is possible for routine mental health agencies to
implement evidence-based psychosocial practices with high fidelity. That
is, over half of the agencies implemented an evidence-based practice in the
manner specified by the developers of the practice, and many others did so
at an acceptable level of fidelity. This is meaningful (1) because many
believe it is difficult to implement evidence-based practices with high
fidelity and (2) because outcomes for users of mental health services are
better when treatment and rehabilitation interventions are implemented with
high fidelity.
How did you become involved in this research, and were
there any problems along the way?
The Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center has developed and disseminated
evidence-based practices for 20 years, so our involvement in the national
project to implement evidence-based practices was a natural consequence of
our ongoing research and collaborations.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
We will continue to study the outcomes and processes of implementation of
evidence-based practices in mental health, and we will move into new areas
where evidence-based practices are needed.
Do you foresee any social or political implications for
your research?
The implications for policymakers (state mental health authorities,
legislators, insurance companies) are many, as they develop policy around
evidence-based practices. The implication for users of mental health
services is that there are effective treatment and rehabilitation
interventions for which they should advocate.
Gregory J. McHugo, Ph.D.
Research Professor
Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center
Lebanon, NH, USA
Keywords: evidence-based practices, treatment and
rehabilitation interventions, implemented with high fidelity, mental
health, mental health agencies, psychosocial practices, users of mental
health services.