Mental Health and Systems of Care Frequently Asked Questions

May 2004

Q: Are the terms effective, best practices, and evidence-based interventions synonymous or different?

A: "Effective," " Best Practices," and "Evidence -based" are all terms used to describe clinical interventions (psychosocial and psychopharmacological) that work. However, the process to determine why they work, with whom they work, and whether they work consistently is very different.

Effective "Best Practices" Interventions (Treatments)

The terms "effective" and "best practice" are often used interchangeably. They both refer to interventions that are:

•Supported by expert opinion as appropriate treatment and are part of the community's standard of care

•Effective but have not been part of a clinical trial (a formal test)

Evidence-based Interventions (Treatments)

Evidence-based interventions (treatments) have:

•A specific population that the interventions (treatments) will help

•A specific intervention (treatment) that will be tested

•A comparison person or group that does not receive the intervention

•Specific outcome(s) that differentiate(s) the person or group that received the intervention (treatment) from the person or group that did not

•The ability to be replicated

Information about Effective/Evidence-based interventions can be found:

- FOR PARENTS

The Effective Black Parenting Program, by Dr. Kerby T. Alvy

A Parents' Guide to Attention Deficit Disorders, by Lisa J. Barn

Your Defiant Child , by Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.

- FOR TEACHERS

Skillstreaming: Teaching Prosocial Skills, by Arnold P. Goldstein, Ph.D.

Building Dreams: Elementary School Edition, by Mychal Wynn and Dee Blassie

- FOR CLINICIANS

Children of Color: Psychological Interventions with Culturally Diverse Youth, edited by Jewelle Taylor Gibbs, Ph.D., and Larke Nahme Huang, Ph.D.

Outcomes for Children and Youth with Behavioral and Emotional Disorders and Their Families: Programs and Evaluation Best Practices , edited by Michael H. Epstein, Ed.D., Krista Kutash, Ph.D., and Albert Duchnowski, Ph.D.

What Works with Children and Adolescents? A Critical Review of Psychological Interventions with Children, Adolescents and Their Families , edited by Alan Carr

Community Treatment For Youth: Evidence-Based Interventions for Severe Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, edited by Barbara J. Burns and Kimberly Hoagwood

- FOR EVERYONE

Mental Health: A report of the Surgeon General (1999). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health.

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	May 2004 Q: Are the terms effective, best practices, and evidence-based interventions synonymous or different? A: "Effective," " Best Practices," and "Evidence -based" are all terms used to describe clinical interventions (psychosocial and psychopharmacological) that work. However, the process to determine why they work, with whom they work, and whether they work consistently is very different. Effective "Best Practices" Interventions (Treatments) The terms "effective" and "best practice" are often used interchangeably. They both refer to interventions that are: •Supported by expert opinion as appropriate treatment and are part of the community's standard of care •Effective but have not been part of a clinical trial (a formal test) Evidence-based Interventions (Treatments) Evidence-based interventions (treatments) have: •A specific population that the interventions (treatments) will help •A specific intervention (treatment) that will be tested •A comparison person or group that does not receive the intervention •Specific outcome(s) that differentiate(s) the person or group that received the intervention (treatment) from the person or group that did not •The ability to be replicated Information about Effective/Evidence-based interventions can be found: - FOR PARENTS The Effective Black Parenting Program, by Dr. Kerby T. Alvy A Parents' Guide to Attention Deficit Disorders, by Lisa J. Barn Your Defiant Child , by Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D. - FOR TEACHERS Skillstreaming: Teaching Prosocial Skills, by Arnold P. Goldstein, Ph.D. Building Dreams: Elementary School Edition, by Mychal Wynn and Dee Blassie - FOR CLINICIANS Children of Color: Psychological Interventions with Culturally Diverse Youth, edited by Jewelle Taylor Gibbs, Ph.D., and Larke Nahme Huang, Ph.D. Outcomes for Children and Youth with Behavioral and Emotional Disorders and Their Families: Programs and Evaluation Best Practices , edited by Michael H. Epstein, Ed.D., Krista Kutash, Ph.D., and Albert Duchnowski, Ph.D. What Works with Children and Adolescents? A Critical Review of Psychological Interventions with Children, Adolescents and Their Families , edited by Alan Carr Community Treatment For Youth: Evidence-Based Interventions for Severe Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, edited by Barbara J. Burns and Kimberly Hoagwood - FOR EVERYONE Mental Health: A report of the Surgeon General (1999). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health.

Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health