Abstract
Concerns about the gap between service quality in mental health systems and the growing literature on scientifically tested treatment approaches has led to multiple policy and practice initiatives calling for greater use of empirically supported interventions (ESIs) in children’s mental health systems. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of these approaches, some concerns remain about the current suitability of ESIs as a single strategy for improving service system quality. Issues raised include (a) the appropriateness of some interventions for individualized care or adaptation in response to emergent events, and (b) the ability for ESIs collectively to yield a comprehensive service array for youth and families. The current paper thus outlines one strategy to complement and extend that work, through a system for organizing and coordinating currently available ESIs as well as for building and adjusting individualized, evidence-informed plans when needed, using dedicated tools to inform treatment design, adaptation, and evaluation in real time. A case example is presented, and implications for treatment and research are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Addis, M. E., & Krasnow, A. (2000). A national survey of practicing psychologists’ attitudes toward psychotherapy treatment manuals. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 331–339.
Addis, M. E., Wade, W. A., & Hatgis, C. (1999). Barriers to evidence-based practices: Addressing practitioners’ concerns about manual-based psychotherapies. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6, 430–441.
Blau, G. M., Huang, L. N., & Mallery, C. J. (2010). Advancing efforts to improve children’s mental health in America: A commentary. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 37, 140–144.
Borntrager, C. F., Chorpita, B. F., Higa-McMillan, C., & Weisz, J. R. (2009). Provider attitudes toward evidence-based practices: Are the concerns with the evidence or with the manuals? Psychiatric Services, 60, 677–681.
Chorpita, B. F., Daleiden, E., & Weisz, J. R. (2005). Modularity in the design and application of therapeutic interventions. Applied and Preventive Psychology, 11, 141–156.
Chorpita, B. F., Becker, K. D., & Daleiden, E. L. (2007). Understanding the common elements of evidence based practice: Misconceptions and clinical examples. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 46, 647–652.
Chorpita, B. F., Bernstein, A. D., Daleiden, E. L., & The Research Network on Youth Mental Health. (2008). Driving with roadmaps and dashboards: Using information resources to structure the decision models in service organizations. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35, 114–123.
Chorpita, B. F., Bernstein, A., & Daleiden, E. L. (2011a). Empirically guided coordination of multiple evidence-based treatments: An illustration of relevance mapping in children’s mental health services. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 470–480.
Chorpita, B. F., & Daleiden, E. L. (in press). Structuring the collaboration of science and service in pursuit of a shared vision. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
Chorpita, B. F., Daleiden, E. L., Ebesutani, C., Young, J., Becker, K. D., Nakamura, B. J., et al. (2011b). Evidence-based treatments for children and adolescents: An updated review of indicators of efficacy and effectiveness. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 18, 153–171.
Chorpita, B. F., & Weisz, J. R. (2009). MATCH-ADTC: Modular approach to therapy for children with anxiety, depression, trauma, or conduct problems. Satellite Beach, FL: PracticeWise.
Chorpita, B. F., Yim, L. M., Donkervoet, J. C., Arensdorf, A., Amundsen, M. J., McGee, C., et al. (2002). Toward large-scale implementation of empirically supported treatments for children: A review and observations by the Hawaii Empirical Basis to Services Task Force. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 9, 165–190.
Chorpita, B. F., Yim, L. M., Moffitt, C. E., Umemoto, L. A., & Francis, S. E. (2000). Assessment of symptoms of DSM-IV anxiety and depression in children: A revised child anxiety and depression scale. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38, 835–855.
Daleiden, E., & Chorpita, B. F. (2005). From data to wisdom: Quality improvement strategies supporting large-scale implementation of evidence based services. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 14, 329–349.
Daleiden, E. L., Chorpita, B. F., Donkervoet, C. M., Arensdorf, A. A., & Brogan, M. (2006). Getting better at getting them better: Health outcomes and evidence-based practice within a system of care. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 45, 749–756.
Kataoka, S., Zhang, L., & Wells, K. (2002). Unmet need for mental health care among U.S. children: Variation by ethnicity and insurance status. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 1548–1555.
Kendall, P. C., & Hedtke, K. A. (2006). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxious children: Therapist manual (3rd ed.). Ardmore, PA: Workbook Publishing.
Nelson, T. D., & Steele, R. G. (2007). Predictors of practitioner self-reported use of evidence-based practices: Practitioner training, clinical setting, and attitudes toward research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 34, 319–330.
Shortt, A., Barrett, P., & Fox, T. (2001). Evaluating the FRIENDS program: A cognitive-behavioral group treatment for anxious children and their parents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30, 525–535.
Silverman, W. K., & Hinshaw, S. P. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents: A ten year update [Special Issue]. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37, 1–301.
Soni, A. (2009). The five most costly children’s conditions, 2006: Estimates for the U.S. Civilians Noninstitutionalized Children, Aged 0–17. Statistical Brief #242. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Southam-Gerow, M. A., Daleiden, E. L., Chorpita, B. F., Bae, C. Mitchell, C., Faye, M., & Alba, M. (in press). MAPping Los Angeles County: Taking an evidence-informed model of mental health care to scale. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
Tolan, P. H., & Dodge, K. A. (2005). Children’s mental health as a primary care and concern: A system for comprehensive support and service. American Psychologist, 60, 601–614.
Weersing, V. R. (2005). Benchmarking the effectiveness of psychotherapy: Program evaluation as a component of evidence-based practice. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44, 1058–1062.
Weisz, J. R., Chorpita, B. F., Palinkas, L. A., Schoenwald, S. K., Miranda, J., Bearman, S. K., et al. (2012). Testing standard and modular designs for psychotherapy with youth depression, anxiety, and conduct problems: A randomized effectiveness trial. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69, 274–282.
Weisz, J. R., Jensen-Doss, A., & Hawley, K. M. (2006). Evidence-based youth psychotherapies versus clinical care: A meta-analysis of direct comparisons. American Psychologist, 61, 671–689.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chorpita, B.F., Daleiden, E.L. & Collins, K.S. Managing and Adapting Practice: A System for Applying Evidence in Clinical Care with Youth and Families. Clin Soc Work J 42, 134–142 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-013-0460-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-013-0460-3