Evidence based practice in mental health Name of the university: Methods and results

Running head: EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH
Evidence based practice in mental health
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH1
Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................2
Rationale for the choice of topic:...............................................................................................2
Search strategy and methods:.....................................................................................................3
Results- search stages & number of items found:......................................................................4
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................7
References:.................................................................................................................................8

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH2
Introduction:
In the target population of patients with major depressive disorder can the use of SSRI
depressants improve symptoms as compared to standard treatment within 6 to 12
months?
This question had been formed taking the assistance of the PICOT format. This is
undoubtedly one of the most effective and optimal format for evidence based practice in the
health care scenario. The PICOT format stands for the five distinct yet interconnected
elements of research in the context of evidence based practice (Saimbert, Pierce &
Hargwood, 2016). The first element is the population which represents target group we have
selected pertinent to the area of concern chosen for the study. In this case, I have chosen the
target group of patients with depression or major depressive disorders. The second element in
this case is the intervention that represents the element that is being tested or evaluated in the
clinical research.
In this case, the intervention chosen is SSRI antidepressants which has recently been
used in clinical research in treating negative thought process in depression patients with
promising effects. The next element is the comparison, which is the antagonist of the
intervention that is being tested. In this case, the comparison is standard treatment devoid of
SSRI. The fourth element is the outcome, which is measurement parameter in any clinical
evidence based practice. In this case, the outcome chosen is the improved symptoms in the
patients (Abbade, Wang, Sriganesh, Mbuagbaw & Thabane, 2016). Lastly, the fifth element
is the timeframe which is also optional, often omitted from the original framework. In this
case, the time frame selected had been 6 to 12 months. Hence, as evidenced by the discussion
above, the structured question for this research follows the PICOT format successfully.

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH3
Rationale for the choice of topic:
Depression is one of the most common types of psychological disorders that prevails
in the present day society. It has to be mentioned in this context that for the Australian health
care scenario, approximately 3 million individuals are living with depression
(Beyondblue.org.au, 2018). A very common trajectory for major depressive disorders is the
gradual deterioration of the negative thought patterns in the patients leading to self-directed
hatred to self-harm to ultimately suicidality. Although, there have been many treatment
interventions and pathways that have been developed to address each of the phases of the
above mentioned trajectory, the impact intensity had not been at par with the expectations.
The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI are the class of drugs that has shown
promising results in improving the symptoms of the patients suffering from major depression
(Jakobsen et al., 2017). Elaborating in to the issue further, it has to be mentioned that this
particular class of drug helps in enhancing the extracellular concentration of serotonin, a
neurotransmitter that governs mood and emotions and limits its reabsorption by the
presynaptic cells. As a result the concentration of serotonin in the synaptic cleft that is
available to bind onto the postsynaptic receptor is enhanced, providing significant
symptomatic management to the patients. As a result, this is a very important and effective
antidepressants which has not as widely integrated in the health care context as expected.
Hence it is my choice of topic area for this research paper.
Search strategy and methods:
The research for this particular assignment has begun with the structured PICOT
question that had been developed. There had been a preliminary research on the topic area
taking the assistance of the Google scholar to gather starting insight on the topic of
depression, major link to negative thought and suicidality, and the impact of SSRI
antidepressants on the symptomatic management. The search phrases that had been used in