What is evidence-based treatment and why is it important?

In the medical world, treatments are based on what research and data have shown to work for your condition. Your doctor prescribes you medicine that has been proven to be effective. It’s an evidence-based decision to give you that medicine.

In the mental health world, evidence-based treatment would seem to be the logical choice for treating patients with mental health disorders, but not every mental health professional uses it.

If you’re suffering from a mental health disorder, you should choose a provider who embraces the use of evidence-based treatment. You want treatment that has proven to be effective.

Evidence-Based Treatment Defined

Evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders is treatment that is scientifically proven to work, but it also embraces the provider’s judgment based on their experience and the patient’s values, culture, and preferences.

Several types of therapy are evidence-based, having been extensively tested in clinical trials and found to result in positive outcomes.

The Importance of Evidence-Based Treatment

Evidence-based therapies use the most recent available information regarding effective therapy outcomes. They are also flexible and tailored to the individual patient, while still being guided by facts and research. Most importantly, they have higher success rates than other therapies, with more patients experiencing success and living healthier lives.

Benefits of Evidence-Based Treatment

Evidence-based treatment has benefits beyond its scientific merit.

1.   Provides a Framework

Evidence-based treatment serves as a framework for your therapist to plan your treatment. They will use the framework, adding their own experience and judgment to the plan and incorporating your specific needs and preferences.

2.   Personalization

The treatment will be a blend of proven methods and your values and cultural preferences, thus making your treatment plan personalized for you.

3.   Experience Matters

With evidence-based treatment, your provider is free to adjust your therapy based on knowledge gained through their own experience. It’s not a “treatment in a box” approach, but rather one that allows the therapist the flexibility to adjust the treatment.

4.   Continuous Learning

Evidence-based treatment is dynamic, with research constantly occurring to improve existing evidence-based therapies and to find new ones. Patients and therapists can continuously learn about new developments.

5.   It’s Ethical

Evidence-based therapies are documented and proven, rather than therapy based on the sole discretion of the therapist. The therapist uses facts to determine the course of therapy, rather than just their opinions.

6.   Works Faster

Generally, evidence-based treatment plans are designed to last a certain amount of time, and that time frame has been determined based on evidence. This means that patients experience faster results.

7.   Cost Effective

Because most evidence-based therapies have a defined timeline, they are more cost effective than long-term therapy.

8.   Versatility

Evidence-based treatments usually work on a variety of disorders, from substance abuse disorders to depression to PTSD.

9.   Holistic Approach

Evidence-based therapy is used to treat multiple disorders at once, such as anxiety and a substance abuse disorder.

Examples of Evidence-Based Treatment

Several evidence-based therapies are widely used to treat mental health disorders.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT teaches patients to recognize their own negative or destructive thoughts and to challenge those thoughts. It also teaches healthy coping skills to manage life’s stressors. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders and is interactive, involving the application of the skills learned to real world situations. In substance abuse treatment programs, including those provided at Bridges of Hope, CBT is the most commonly used therapy.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): DBT is similar to CBT, but focuses on regulating emotions, being mindful, and tolerating distressing situations. Therapy usually involves individual therapy and practicing skills learned in groups. DBT is used for borderline personality disorder, mood disorders, and for people who self-harm or are at risk for suicide.
• Motivational Interviewing: In motivational interviewing, the therapist encourages the patient to set goals for change and become motivated to meet those goals.
• Relapse Prevention: Relapse prevention teaches patients with substance abuse disorders to recognize triggers and situations that can cause relapse, and to use coping strategies to avoid relapse.
• Neurofeedback: Neurofeedback involves monitoring electrical activity and feeding that activity into a computer, which then sends back signals to retrain the brain. It’s used mainly for patients with ADHD, anxiety, and depression.
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT): IPT focuses on current relationships and using better interpersonal skills in those relationships. It’s based on the theory that psychological symptoms are a response to difficult relationship situations.

In Closing

Evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders has a host of benefits and is highly effective. If you are seeking help for a mental health disorder, such as a substance abuse disorder, you should seek a provider that utilizes an evidence based therapy approach. You can also be your own mental health advocate by reading about the latest evidence-based therapies for your disorder and sharing your preferences with your mental health provider.

At Bridges of Hope, we provide a safe space for recovery from substance abuse disorders using evidence-based, personalized treatments. If you need help, give us a call today for a confidential consultation.