WHAT PROPORTION OF PRIMARY PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTIONS ARE BASED ON EVIDENCE FROM RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS

Objectives-To estimate the proportion of psychiatric inpatients receiv ing primary interventions based on randomised controlled trials or sys tematic reviews of randomised controlled trials. Design-Retrospective survey. Setting-Acute adult general psychiatric ward. Subjects-All pat ients admitted to the ward during a 28 day period. Main outcome measur es-Primary interventions were classified according to whether or not t hey were supported by evidence from randomised controlled trials or sy stematic reviews. Results-The primary interventions received by 26/40 (65%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 51% to 79%) of patients admitte d during the period were based on randomised trials or systematic revi ews. Conclusions-When patients were used as the denominator, most prim ary interventions given in acute general psychiatry were based on expe rimental evidence. The evidence was difficult to locate; there is an u rgent need for systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials in t his area.