Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

The pressure is on around the country to implement evidence-based practices in mental health. Our paper is among the first to report on a widespread attempt to implement evidence-based practices in routine mental health agencies.

Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis of knowledge?

Not really. However, it is unusual in scope, in that the research was conducted at over 50 mental health agencies in eight states.

Would you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

We learned that it is possible for routine mental health agencies to implement evidence-based psychosocial practices with high fidelity. That is, over half of the agencies implemented an evidence-based practice in the manner specified by the developers of the practice, and many others did so at an acceptable level of fidelity. This is meaningful (1) because many believe it is difficult to implement evidence-based practices with high fidelity and (2) because outcomes for users of mental health services are better when treatment and rehabilitation interventions are implemented with high fidelity.

How did you become involved in this research, and were there any problems along the way?

The Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center has developed and disseminated evidence-based practices for 20 years, so our involvement in the national project to implement evidence-based practices was a natural consequence of our ongoing research and collaborations.

Where do you see your research leading in the future?

We will continue to study the outcomes and processes of implementation of evidence-based practices in mental health, and we will move into new areas where evidence-based practices are needed.

Do you foresee any social or political implications for your research?

The implications for policymakers (state mental health authorities, legislators, insurance companies) are many, as they develop policy around evidence-based practices. The implication for users of mental health services is that there are effective treatment and rehabilitation interventions for which they should advocate.

Gregory J. McHugo, Ph.D.
Research Professor
Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center
Lebanon, NH, USA

Keywords: evidence-based practices, treatment and rehabilitation interventions, implemented with high fidelity, mental health, mental health agencies, psychosocial practices, users of mental health services.