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. 1996 Dec;5(4):215-7.
doi: 10.1136/qshc.5.4.215.

What proportion of primary psychiatric interventions are based on evidence from randomised controlled trials?

J R Geddes  1 , D Game, N E Jenkins, L A Peterson, G R Pottinger, D L Sackett
Affiliations

What proportion of primary psychiatric interventions are based on evidence from randomised controlled trials?

J R Geddes et al. Qual Health Care. 1996 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the proportion of psychiatric inpatients receiving primary interventions based on randomised controlled trials or systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials.

Design: Retrospective survey.

Setting: Acute adult general psychiatric ward.

Subjects: All patients admitted to the ward during a 28 day period.

Main outcome measures: Primary interventions were classified according to whether or not they were supported by evidence from randomised controlled trials or systematic reviews.

Results: The primary interventions received by 26/40 (65%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 51% to 79%) of patients admitted during the period were based on randomised trials or systematic reviews.

Conclusions: When patients were used as the denominator, most primary interventions given in acute general psychiatry were based on experimental evidence. The evidence was difficult to locate; there is an urgent need for systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials in this area.

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