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Objectives: This meta-analysis evaluates treatment effects for nonpsychotic major depression during pregnancy and postpartum comparing interventions by type and timing. Methods: Studies for decreasing depressive severity during pregnancy and postpartum applying treatment trials and standardized measures were included. Standardized mean differences were calculated for continuous variable outcome data. Results: Thirteen interventions reported positive effect sizes, one reported marginally positive effect size, one reported no effect, and the remaining reported marginally negative effect size. By type of treatment, medication with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT; 3.871, p < .001) and medication alone (3.048, p < .001) reported largest effect size, followed by group therapy (CBT, educational, and transactional analysis; 2.045, p < .001), interpersonal psychotherapy (1.260, p < .001), CBT (.642, p < .001), psychodynamic (.526, p = .014), counseling (.418, p = .014), and educational (.100, p = .457). Postpartum implementation produced larger effect size (.837, p < .001) than implementation during pregnancy (.377, p = .002). When medication interventions are excluded, postpartum effect size is .704 (p < .001). Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest medication, alone or with CBT; group therapy with CBT, educational, and transactional analysis components; interpersonal psychotherapy; and CBT produce largest effect sizes in this population among interventions tested.

Recently, social work has been influenced by new forms of practice that hold promise for bringing practice and research together to strengthen the scientific knowledge base supporting social work intervention. The most recent new practice framework is evidence-based practice. However, although evidence-based practice has many qualities that might attract social workers to adopt it, use in practice is limited. Accordingly, attention is being given to determine effective strategies for the dissemination, adoption, and implementation of evidence-based practice. This article examines the implementation literature, describes alternative strategies for implementation of evidence-based practice in social work, describes an implementation study to illustrate concepts discussed, and specifies needed research.

Objective: To minimize barriers to care, ameliorate antenatal depression, and prevent postpartum depression, we conducted a pilot study to assess the feasibility of providing brief interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-B) to depressed, pregnant patients on low incomes in an obstetrics and gynecological (OB/GYN) clinic. Method: Twelve pregnant, depressed women were recruited as a convenience sample from the clinic and were offered a pretreatment engagement interview and eight sessions of IPT-B, followed by monthly maintenance IPT sessions up to 6-months postpartum. Results: Nine of these 12 patients (75%) completed eight sessions of IPT-B. Paired t tests showed that completers of IPT-B displayed significant improvement at posttreatment and 6-months postpartum on three measures of depression, a measure of anxiety, and some aspects of social functioning. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that providing depression screening and treatment to this sample in an OB/GYN clinic was feasible and accompanied by high rates of clinical and functional improvement.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of interventions for incarcerated women. Method: The researchers use a two-model system: the risk-reduction model for studies analyzing interventions to reduce recidivism rates, and the enhancement model for studies that target psychological and physical well-being. Results: Incarcerated women who participate in substance abuse interventions appear less likely to reoffend than those who do not participate. Enhancement model studies report mixed results. Overall, psychological-oriented interventions and substance abuse programs improve mental health symptoms and substance use among participants as compared to control or comparison groups. Results for HIV prevention programs are ambiguous, and parenting skill programs show no significant effect. Conclusion: Results highlight interventions that appear useful with female inmates. More rigorous research is needed to address many of these evidence-based interventions.

English
Evidence-based practice and policy is an innovative concept born out of medicine and surrounded by a great deal of debate. Although researchers have begun to define and build frameworks for the process of evidence-based social work (EBSW), few practitioners appear to employ evidence-based approaches and relatively little is known about how to facilitate this form of knowledge transfer. Arguments in favour of evidence-based practice include its potential to enhance the quality of decisions about the care of individual clients, manage constantly evolving research knowledge, incorporate clients' values and expectations into the practice process and choices, provide a framework for education and self-directed life-long learning and encouraging high-quality practice-relevant research. Although EBSW appears promising and complementary to social work values, there have been many arguments made in opposition to its use. This article outlines the origins of EBSW, current thoughts about its definition and application, as well as a discussion of eight key challenges to the application of evidence-based practice and policy in social work. These challenges include: (1) evidence of effectiveness; (2) authority; (3) conflicting hierarchy; (4) definition of evidence; (5) shortage of evidence; (6) application of group effects to individual events or clients; (7) efficacy versus effectiveness, and (8) adoption and implementation. Historically, other promising innovations within social work have materialised and disintegrated without gaining widespread acceptance. Social work's response to these challenges will dictate the shape EBSW takes, and whether or not it is implemented widely across the field.

Evidence-based practice & policy is an innovative concept born out of medicine & surrounded by a great deal of debate. Although researchers have begun to define & build frameworks for the process of evidence-based social work (EBSW), few practitioners appear to employ evidence-based approaches & relatively little is known about how to facilitate this form of knowledge transfer. Arguments in favour of evidence-based practice include its potential to enhance the quality of decisions about the care of individual clients, manage constantly evolving research knowledge, incorporate clients' values & expectations into the practice process & choices, provide a framework for education & self-directed life-long learning & encouraging high-quality practice-relevant research. Although EBSW appears promising & complementary to social work values, there have been many arguments made in opposition to its use. This article outlines the origins of EBSW, current thoughts about its definition & application, as well as a discussion of eight key challenges to the application of evidence-based practice & policy in social work. These challenges include: (1) evidence of effectiveness; (2) authority; (3) conflicting hierarchy; (4) definition of evidence; (5) shortage of evidence; (6) application of group effects to individual events or clients; (7) efficacy versus effectiveness, & (8) adoption & implementation. Historically, other promising innovations within social work have materialised & disintegrated without gaining widespread acceptance. Social work's response to these challenges will dictate the shape EBSW takes, & whether or not it is implemented widely across the field. 3 Figures, 57 References. Adapted from the source document.

A complete and mindfully developed blueprint for implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work should include a full complement of coordinated goals and strategies for all stakeholders, including future social workers. To this end, schools of social work should teach students to be lifelong learners; teach students what is currently known and not known about the efficacy and effectiveness of social work practices and programs; teach students to be knowledgeable and skillful with the empirically supported practices in their area of specialty; teach current practitioners new knowledge and skills through evidence-based continuing education programs. This article describes these strategies and draws on examples from the classroom and a pilot training project designed to support EBP in social work agencies.

The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) as a professional model of practice for social work has been suggested as one approach to support informed clinical decision making. However, different barriers and processes have been identified that impact the use of EBP at individual, organizational, and systemic levels. This article describes results from a project that sought to enhance practitioner use of EBP by using a supportive strategy including training and technical assistance through a partnership between university-based researchers and three social work agencies. Results compare similarities and differences across each of the three agencies in terms of barriers and promoters at the team, organizational, and system levels. Results suggest that comprehensive multilevel interventions are needed to support the use of EBP in social work organizations and that further research is needed to test explicit partnership components. Findings suggest that a multilevel approach has the greatest potential to support implementation of EBP in social agencies.