Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116842

Fred C. Osher, MD, Center for Behavioral Health, Justice, and Public Policy, University of Maryland, 3700 Koppers Street, Suite 402, Baltimore, MD 21227, (410) 646-3511, fosher@psych.umaryland.edu

The advantage of employing evidence-based practices (EBPs) is now widely acknowledged across the medical, substance abuse, and mental health fields. This paper reviews EBPs in the treatment of co-occurring disorders (COD). It describes the methodology used to determine that practices qualify as evidence-based, and describes the Co-occurring Center for Excellence's (COCE's) typology for organizing EBPs according to the strength of evidence supporting them. The paper gives several examples of “evidence-based” practice for COD including Integrated Treatment, Modified Therapeutic Community, and Assertive Community Treatment.

Clients present for treatment with a wide variety and different combinations of disorders, not all of which can be addressed by existing EBPs. Accordingly, consensus-based practices (CBPs), which have clinical support but lack sufficient research support, are also discussed. The paper will argue for the judicious use of both EBPs and CBPs to meet the wide range of clinical needs.

The paper will also discuss key considerations in the selection and implementation of EBPs and CBPs. These include the nature of the disorder (e.g., single, multiple, co-occurring disorders), the setting (e.g., substance abuse, mental health), the type of population (e.g., homeless, criminal justice), client characteristics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, past treatment experience), staff development needs and organizational readiness, fidelity issues, and the costs and other resources required for successful implementation.

Finally, the paper will describe the resources developed by COCE to support the application of EBPs and CBPs in States and localities.

Learning Objectives:

• See overall session abstract

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Federal Initiatives

Related Web page: www.coce.samhsa.gov

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.