Practice research networks for effective psychological therapies

Abstract

Practice Research Networks (PRNs) are introduced in the context of the need of mental health services to deliver on the effectiveness agenda. PRNs provide the infrastructure to enable discrete services within a geographical region to collaborate on audit and evaluation ventures. The provision of such an infrastructure yields potentially large data bases that provide the foundation for delivering 'practicebased evidence' as a natural complement to 'evidence-based practice'. Accordingly, PRNs help to provide a bridge for delivering high quality research in the post-Culyer NHS. An example of a UK PRN is provided. The potential for clinicians to address the effectiveness agenda is addressed according to the following issues: cost-efficiency; research, development and dissemination; research-practice gap; resistance to effectiveness evaluation; and policy implementation and development.