Implementing Evidence‐based Practice for People who Experience Psychosis: Towards a Strategic Approach
| Date | 01 June 2003 |
| Published date | 01 June 2003 |
| Pages | 30-33 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13619322200300018 |
| Author | Charlie Brooker,Alison Brabban |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Implementing Evidence-based
Practice for People who Experience
Psychosis: Towards a Strategic Approach
Charlie Brooker
Professor of Mental Health, ScHARR
University of Sheffield
Alison Brabban
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
County Durham and Darlington
Priority Services NHS Trust
Focus on…
lthough the importance of providing
psychosocial interventions (PSI) for people suffering with
psychosis has now been recognised at a national level,
implementation of evidence-based practice remains
inconsistent and patchy, relying on local priorities,
expertise and resources. The National Institute for
Mental Health in England (NIMHE) provides an ideal
opportunity to develop a coherent, strategic approach to
facilitate implementation of PSI into local services. The
NIMHE PSI work group aims to increase the availability
of evidence-based approaches for psychosis in routine
practice, addressing obstacles that can hinder successful
implementation. This paper describes the rationale for
such a group, its aims and objectives, the way the group is
structured and organised, and the key tasks that it has set
itself.
What are psychosocial interventions?
Psychosocial interventions have developed quickly over
the past decade and can be defined as interventions that
seek to ameliorate a user, relative or family problem
associated with a psychosis using an approach based on
psychological principles or addressing a change in social
circumstances.
The central premise of this approach, deriving from a
bio-psychosocial understanding of psychosis that has
recovery as a goal, is a stress vulnerability model (Zubin &
ASpring, 1977; Nuechterlein & Dawson, 1985) that
proposes that psychosis is triggered and maintained by an
interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.
Based upon empirical evidence, PSI offers therapeutic
optimism to both practitioners and service users alike.
Taking a needs-led approach, as opposed to focusing
merely on symptoms, service users are helped to achieve
their personal goals. A further defining feature is the
emphasis on supporting the families of people suffering a
psychosis.
Psychosocial interventions have been shaped by the
following principles:
■individuals with a psychosis have the potential
to recover
■psychological models of understanding can be
applied to psychosis
■the importance of social inclusion and having a
valued social role
■proper respect for the family and their role in
recovery
■the stress-vulnerability model
■the role of medication as a buffer against stress.
Features intrinsic to the employment of psychosocial
interventions include:
■the establishment of a long-term relationship
with the service user and his/her family
■a comprehensive assessment of a person across
the life span and life domains
30 The Mental Health Review Volume 8 Issue 2 June 2003 ©Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) 2003
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