What Is Evidence-Based Psychiatric Practice?
You hear the term “evidence-based” a lot in healthcare. But what does it actually mean when it comes to your psychiatric treatment? Does it mean your doctor is just following a rigid formula? Does it leave room for your individual needs? Understanding what evidence-based practice is can give you confidence that your treatment plan is not based on guesswork, but on a solid foundation of scientific research and clinical expertise.
At Televero Health, we are committed to an evidence-based approach. This means that we integrate the best available scientific evidence with our clinical experience and, most importantly, with your personal values and preferences. It’s a collaborative approach designed to give you the most effective care possible.
The Three Pillars of Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-based practice is not just about “what the research says.” It’s a thoughtful, three-part process that combines:
- The Best Available Scientific Evidence: This is the foundation. It means that your psychiatrist stays up-to-date with the latest high-quality research from clinical trials and other studies. This research tells us which treatments (like specific medications or types of therapy) have been shown to be the most effective and safe for a particular condition. It helps us to know which treatments have the highest probability of working for the most people.
- The Clinician’s Expertise: Science gives us the general rules, but every patient is an individual. This is where the clinician’s professional experience and judgment come in. Your psychiatrist uses their expertise to take the general knowledge from the research and apply it to your unique situation. They consider your specific symptoms, your medical history, your co-occurring conditions, and your life circumstances to determine which evidence-based option is the best fit for you.
- The Patient’s Values and Preferences: This is a crucial and often overlooked part of the process. You are the center of your care. Your personal values, goals, and preferences must be taken into account. For example, the evidence might show that two different medications are equally effective for your condition. However, one might have a side effect of weight gain, while the other might cause drowsiness. If you are very concerned about your weight, you might prefer to try the one that causes drowsiness. Your provider will discuss the pros and cons of the different evidence-based options with you, and the final decision will be a shared one.
What It Looks Like in Practice
So how does this translate to your actual appointments? An evidence-based approach means that your provider will:
- Use validated diagnostic tools to ensure they have an accurate understanding of your condition.
- Recommend treatments that have been proven effective in scientific studies. For example, they will likely recommend a first-line treatment like an SSRI and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression, because these have a large body of evidence supporting their use.
- Use measurement-based care. As we’ve discussed, this involves using standardized assessments to track your symptoms and progress. This is a core component of evidence-based practice because it provides objective data to show whether a treatment is working.
- Engage in shared decision-making. They will present you with the evidence-based options and have a conversation with you about which one aligns best with your personal goals and concerns.
Evidence-based practice is the opposite of a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach. It is a framework for providing care that is both scientifically sound and deeply personal. It ensures that the treatment you receive is not based on tradition, anecdote, or a doctor’s hunch, but on a careful integration of the best science, the doctor’s professional judgment, and your own voice. It’s about getting the right treatment to the right person at the right time.
Key Takeaways
- Evidence-based psychiatric practice is an approach that combines the best scientific research, the clinician’s expertise, and the patient’s values and preferences.
- It means your treatment plan is based on therapies and medications that have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective.
- It is a collaborative approach that involves shared decision-making, where your provider discusses the evidence-based options with you and considers your personal goals.
- This approach ensures that your care is not based on guesswork, but on a solid foundation of science that is tailored to your individual needs.
Ready to take the first step? We can help. Get started with Televero Health today.