Randomised controlled trials of psychosocial interventions in a mental health setting : how can the gold standard be achieved?

People with mental illness are a vulnerable group and more needs to be done to promote high quality research to ensure access to the best treatment options. For example, psychosocial interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy or motivational interviewing, are becoming increasingly common treatments for people with mental health problems and substance misuse, but the efficacy of these interventions requires continuous assessment and review (Ley & Jeffrey, 2003). That said, mental health is not an easy area to evaluate and can present many challenges to seasonal researchers, let alone those embarking on research. No area is more challenging than the randomised controlled trial (RCT). This commentary aims to provide some guidance to assist those contemplating research in this important area in order to ensure the quality and success of their trial.