Skip to main content
News

New Tools for Implementing Evidence-Based Care for Serious Mental Illness

By February 12, 2026No Comments

SAMHSA funded an initiative to address national issues in delivery of evidence-based practices for those with serious mental illness. This includes underutilization of mental health peers in care delivery, low adaptation of novel delivery modalities such as telehealth, and few incentives to work with populations with severe and treatment-resistant illness. Serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and recurrent major depression, are debilitating and costly mental disorders that present significant challenges to patients and their families as well as to the health care organizations responsible for the care of these patients (1). Don’t hesitate to speak with a healthcare provider or mental health professional about your concerns.

  • CBT-I therapy typically involves about four to seven weekly sessions of 30 to 60 minutes each.
  • Another example of an evidence-based therapy is prolonged exposure therapy, which is effective in treating PTSD by helping individuals process traumatic experiences and confront their fears.
  • Factors such as increased work demands, economic pressures, social isolation, and lifestyle changes contribute to the rising incidence of these disorders.
  • This treatment pairs patients’ eye movements with their processing of traumatic memories.
  • The rise in medication use and the decline in the provision of psychosocial treatments are of concern for a host of reasons.

Understanding Evidence-Based Therapy: Benefits and Approaches

evidence-based mental health treatment

Yes, all our programs, including Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, PHP, and IOP, are built on evidence-based methods. Yes, these approaches are used to treat a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and more. Rehab programs built on evidence-based approaches emphasize skill-building and resilience, equipping clients with the tools they need to maintain their progress and prevent relapse. Evidence-based programs prioritize personalized care, recognizing that AAFP Mental Health Month Resources each client’s experiences and challenges are unique. Because these approaches are grounded in research, clients can trust that they are receiving treatments with a track record of success. Mental health rehab programs that utilize evidence-based approaches offer a range of benefits that go beyond symptom management.

evidence-based mental health treatment

Study 1

evidence-based mental health treatment

Compared to treatment as usual, PEI improved the motivation of parents who attended more sessions and adhered to treatment more fully. Research has focused on tackling motivational barriers to patient’s seeking and attending treatment. Indeed, the use of progress monitoring results in fewer patients deteriorating during or after treatment (De Jong et al., 2013). While weekly progress monitoring is often a feature of EBPTs, there are good reasons why there is increasing emphasis on developing progress monitoring systems and monitoring outcomes (Persons, 2012), particularly for patients who are at risk for poor outcome (Newnham, Hooke, & Page, 2010).

evidence-based mental health treatment

This policy emphasizes integrating the best-available research with clinical expertise in the context of the patient’s culture, individual characteristics, and personal preferences. The American Psychological Association developed a policy on the EBP of psychotherapy that follows the definition put forth by Sackett et al. and the Institute of Medicine . Over time, the concept has expanded and now includes consideration of patients’ preferences, actions, clinical state, and circumstances . They noted that it requires the integration of the practitioner’s clinical expertise with the best available data gleaned from systematic investigations . In the 1990s, the phrase began to be used in relation to a clinical decision-making approach informed by published findings 13–15.

evidence-based mental health treatment

Genetic counseling can also provide insights into risk factors and guide decisions regarding treatment options. This means that family history may influence mental health through epigenetic changes, where adverse experiences can modify gene activity across generations, potentially increasing the risk for descendants . For example, exposure to trauma, socioeconomic challenges, or parental mental health problems can influence the mental well-being of family members.

shaila sharmin

Author shaila sharmin

More posts by shaila sharmin