A framework for evidence-based mental health care and policy

Objective: Care planning integrates a growing number of disciplines, research fields and analysis techniques. A framework of the main areas of interest with regard to evidence-based health care in mental health is provided here. Method: The framework is based on the experience of working with data analysts and health and social decision makers at the PSICOST/RIRAG network, a Spanish research association which includes psychiatrists, health economists and health policy experts, as well as on a review of the literature. Results: Three main areas have been identified and described here: outcomes management, knowledge discovery from data, and decision support systems. Their use in mental health care is reviewed. Conclusion: It is important to promote bridging strategies among these new fields in order to enhance communication and information transfer between the different parts involved in mental health decision making: i) clinicians and epidemiologists, ii) data analysts, iii) care policy makers and other end-users.