Using evidence about clinical effectiveness in everyday psychiatric practice

Most clinicians understand the advantages of basing their practice on the best available evidence, but sometimes doubts are voiced about the feasibility of applying the strategies of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in everyday clinical practice. This article describes one strategy for beginning to use EBM in 'real-time' which could already be used by the majority of clinicians. The rapid developments in clinical informatics are likely to enhance the feasibility and value of this strategy