Editorial: Shared Decision Making in Mental Health: International Perspectives on Implementation

Abstract

While there is an increased acceptance of the potential usefulness of applying share decision making (SDM) in everyday mental health practice, its implementation in practice is still lacking. People who use mental health services often do not know what SDM is; clinicians often have reservations concerning the capacity of service users to make decisions, and fear that SDM may lead to harmful risk taking in increased medication non-adherence. Current research of these issues demonstrates the importance of easy access to information concerning mental health interventions, and the relevance of respect and trust by both clinicians and service users to each other in the process of SDM. Existing research highlights the willingness and ability of most people experiencing mental ill health to reach well- informed decisions alongside their clinicians. The editors of this special issue have therefore invited articles on original research describing SDM projects contributing to advancing the development of SDM and its implementation.