Evidence-Based Treatments: The Debate

This chapter addresses two specific issues that have been pivotal in the controversy surrounding the use of evidence-based treatments: The manualization of the treatments and the portability of the evidence-based treatments from research settings to clinical settings. The primary goal of evidence-based practice is to improve patient care. Although evidence-based practice is not specifically affiliated with any one theoretical position, it does require treatments to be based on scientifically credible evidence-evidence that is obtained largely through randomized clinical trials. The Veterans Health Administration in the United States has begun a systems-wide implementation of evidence based treatments for disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and serious mental illnesses for the millions of veterans it serves. Currently, excellent websites exist to provide access to information about evidence-based treatments for patients, mental health professionals, clinical researchers, and the lay public.