Current Trends: Evidence-Based Practice

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Evidence -Based Practice in Psychology

Evidence based practice (EBP) utilizes research to establish the framework for efficient and safe medical practices. The definition of Evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) is similar to that by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Evidence-based practice in psychology is the integration of the best available research combined with clinical expertise to contextualize cultures, individual characteristics of patients, and other preferences.

Four Examples of EBP Articles (Related to Depression)

Article 1
A systematic review study was conducted by David-Ferdon and Kaslow (2008) with 10 children (?12 yrs.) and 18 adolescents (?13 yrs.), who were diagnosed with major depression; at risk of depression, with elevated depression levels. After an analysis of all the evidenced-based psychosocial treatments for child and adolescent depression published since 1998, it was indicated that the evidence supported group CBT and individual Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for adolescents. Additionally, for children the evidence supported Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)-based interventions that were delivered in a children-only group format or child-plus-parent group format (APA, 2007).

Article 2
In this collection (16 studies) of review of meta-analyses study conducted by Butler, Chapman, Forman & Beck (2006), the participants were 9995 adults, adolescents and children with depression in 32 studies across 16 disorders. Butler et al (2006) reviewed the meta-analyses with effect sizes that contrasted the CBT with outcomes from different control groups. The study indicated a significant effect sizes in favor of the CBTs for adult and adolescent unipolar depression, and those stemming from childhood depressive disorders. Also, the effects of CBT were still present long after the treatment. Furthermore, relapses were only evident in half of pharmacotherapy related cases (APA, 2007).

Article 3
In 2005, a systematic review study was conducted by Feijo de Mello, de Jesus Mari, Bacaltchuk, Verdeil, & Neugebauer. In this study that involved a meta-analysis of 13 studies, 4 meta-analyses, and 2199 adults and adolescents previously diagnosed with depression; Feijo de Mello and his colleagues, reviewed and meta-analyzed all RCTs that were published between 1974 and 2002 and those also related to IPT and depression. The findings of their study revealed that IPT was better when compared with the placebo in 9 of the studies, and was much more effective than CBT in reducing depressive symptoms in 3 studies. There were no significant differences between IPT and treatment medication in depression. Finally, the combination of the IPT and medication proved not to be better than administering of medication alone (APA, 2007).

Article 4
Another study done by Henken, Huibers, Churchill, Resifo, & Roelofs in 2007, utilized a systematic review of 6 studies, with 519 children, adolescents and young adults carried out in family based intervention settings. The procedure included but was not limited to: a review of all the randomized ...