The Impact of Measurement-Based Care in Psychiatry: An Integrative Review

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The quality of mental health treatment has not progressed to the same extent as physical health treatment. Suboptimal mental health outcomes may be attributed to the lack of a systematic approach to tracking and measuring patient progress. In psychiatry, Measurement-Based Care (MBC) offers an objective, systematic approach to monitor clinical progress, evaluate treatment efficacy, and inform clinical decisions, yet remains seldom used in daily practice.

AIMS:

To identify the clinical impact of using MBC in psychiatry.

METHODS:

Using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model as a guideline, this integrative review focused on the research query, “What is the clinical impact of Measurement-Based Care when treating patients with mental illness?”

RESULTS:

A total of nine articles met the inclusion criteria for this integrative review. The articles ranged from 2008 to 2021. The following themes were identified from the analysis of these articles: (1) the clinical impact of MBC, (2) provider attitudes about MBC, and (3) barriers to MBC implementation.

CONCLUSIONS:

MBC, augmenting usual standard care, provides an objective, systematic approach using quantifiable data to monitor symptom severity and treatment effectiveness. This review highlights the clinical benefits of MBC, including increased remission rates, lower risk of relapse, improved medication adherence, and strengthening the therapeutic alliance. Although this review provides an overview of the benefits of MBC in psychiatry, there remains a substantial practice gap warranting further investigation. Strategies must be developed to address barriers at the individual and organizational levels which impede the successful adoption of MBC.