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Evidence‐based psychiatric practice: doctrine or trap?
Author(s) -
Berk Michael,
Mmedpsych .,
Ffpsychsa .,
Janet Miles Leigh,
Mmedpsych .
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2753.1999.00180.x
Subject(s) - acknowledgement , doctrine , independence (probability theory) , clinical practice , quality (philosophy) , trap (plumbing) , medicine , psychology , risk analysis (engineering) , psychiatry , nursing , computer science , political science , computer security , epistemology , law , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , environmental engineering , engineering
Medical practice has rapidly shifted towards an ‘evidence‐based’ approach. While there are acknowledged clear benefits to this, a number of pitfalls are frequently not appreciated. Perhaps the most important limitation is the extent to which the current body of data is inadequate for many common clinical decisions. Algorithms risk being developed, frequently by third parties, without acknowledgement of these limitations and with substantial implications for clinical independence and the quality of patient care. This paper discusses potential problems of the evidence‐based approach and suggests possible guidelines for the management of clinical decisions given the limitations of data‐based guidelines.