As a participating organization at the 2018 and 2019 Coalition for the Advancement and Application of Psychological Science (CAAPS) Summits, AAMFT collaborated with numerous other organizations committed to clinical science in creating an evidence based practice statement.
The Coalition for the Advancement and Application of Psychological Science (CAAPS) strives to promote science to understand, reduce, and prevent the burden of mental illness, and foster adaptive development and well-being. Member organizations work on many different aspects of the creation, dissemination, and application of clinical science and the training of clinical scientists but share a commitment to prioritizing a scientific epistemology to advance knowledge and improve human well-being.
Along with numerous other associations, AAMFT endorsed the following practice statement.
Evidence Based Practice Consensus Statement
Consensus Statement: Evidence-based practice decision-making for mental and behavioral health care
Evidence-based practice of mental and behavioral health care is an ongoing, collaborative approach to making decisions about services, which includes the following components:
1) Evidence-based practice begins with consideration of the best available basic and applied empirical research evidence when making decisions about mental and behavioral health services.
The limitations of the available empirical evidence are also considered, especially given contextual factors such as developmental level, community/cultural needs, the settings in which the services occur, barriers to services, and the strengths and assets of individuals and communities. The limitations of the evidence base, however, do not impede the retention or adaptation of principles and techniques from the empirical evidence that remain relevant and applicable after consideration of the limitations.
2) Evidence-based practice includes ongoing measurement and evaluation of the impact of services and, if necessary, outcome-informed adjustments to services that are intended to maximize their effectiveness.
3) Providers serve as a guide for collaborative decision-making in evidence-based practice, integrating different sources of information, including recipients’ values and preferences, as well as the provider’s competence and the organization’s capacity to provide effective services.
AAMFT is grateful for the invitation to attend and participate in CAAPS. This work is critical for decision making in mental and behavioral health issues.