Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Assessing fidelity in psychosocial interventions: a systematic literature review

Objective

Psychosocial interventions have had a positive impact on the lives of people with severe mental illness. However, such interventions should be implemented accurately according to the protocol. Fidelity refers to the extent that an intervention adheres to the original model and its evaluation is essential so that the outcomes can be credited to the intervention. This study aims carry out a global systematic review of psychosocial interventions to patients suffering from mental illness which have an instrument or assessment method of fidelity to original model.

Methods

Systematic literature searches were performed to find studies relevant to the theme in the following databases: Embase, Medline, Scopus and SciELO. Studies of psychosocial intervention, conducted in community care for patients diagnosed with mental disorders were included. Comparison interventions could include either the standard treatment or intervention of active comparison. Study quality was assessed independently by two reviewers using criteria adapted from validated instruments.

Results

Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies have shown the effectiveness of the assessment of fidelity to differentiate different treatment models, their predictive validity for outcomes and reliability of the instruments used, as well as facilitating factors and obstacles for achieving high fidelity in the evaluated interventions.

Conclusion

More than documenting adherence to the original model, fidelity also provides information relating to the target population and the expected outcomes, which allows performing necessary adjustments during its course to be achieved excellence in the implementation process of such interventions.

Fidelity; protocol compliance; psychosocial interventions; mental disorders; systematic review


Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Av. Venceslau Brás, 71 Fundos, 22295-140 Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 21) 3873-5510 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: editora@ipub.ufrj.br