Factors Involved in Clinician Adoption and Nonadoption of Evidence-Based Interventions in Mental Health

With the development of empirically supported psychological treatments and the growing mandate for evidence-based practice, the dissemination and implementation of interventions with proven efficacy has assumed a growing sense of urgency. One barrier to the implementation of new procedures involves individual differences in the proclivity to adopt innovations, even in the context of supportive organizational structures. This article reviews the literature on the characteristics of adopters and nonadopters and factors that facilitate adoption of evidence-based practice in the field of mental health. Information about reasons for adoption and nonadoption of evidence-based practices in other areas of health-care delivery is reviewed to inform strategies for improving rates of adoption of evidence-based treatments by mental health providers.