Harnessing Implementation Science in Clinical Psychology
Northwestern Medicine leads in the application of implementation science to close know-do gaps
By Jacob J. Davis – March 31, 2025
Northwestern Medicine investigators have outlined how clinical psychologists can help close the gap between knowledge and practice in mental healthcare in a new review published in the Annual Review of Psychology.
The United States spends billions of dollars on developing behavioral health research yet still struggles with poor mental health outcomes. Nine in ten Americans view mental health as a crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
In the review, investigators outlined a five-step approach for integrating implementation science, a new discipline focused on supporting people and places in deploying best practices into clinical psychology.
First, to bridge the gap between research and real-world practice, it is essential to identify the know–do gap and recognize where evidence-based treatments (EBTs) are not being effectively implemented.
"Many proven treatments never reach the people who need them in a clinical setting. This thought piece explains how clinical psychologists can harness implementation science to transform behavioral healthcare for all people," said Rinad Beidas, PhD, the chair and Ralph Seal Paffenbarger Professor of Medical Social Sciences.
Second, selecting an appropriate EBT ensures that the chosen intervention aligns with the clinical setting and population needs. Understanding which factors make it hard or easy to implement is crucial, as these factors can either facilitate or hinder the adoption of new treatments. To address these challenges, targeted implementation strategies should be employed to overcome obstacles and promote successful integration.
Finally, measuring success through ongoing evaluation helps determine the effectiveness, adoption and sustainability of the treatment.
"By bridging the research-to-practice gap, implementation science offers a roadmap to improving behavioral health outcomes and ensuring that effective treatments reach those who need them most," said Sara Becker, PhD, the Inaugural Director of the Center for Dissemination and Science (CDIS). “With the strong partnership between CDIS and the Division of Implementation Science within the Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern Medicine is positioned to be a national leader in this vital field of science."
The review provides real-world examples of clinical psychologists using implementation science, including secure firearm storage in pediatric primary care and contingency management, a behavioral therapy approach that rewards individuals for positive changes for opioid use disorder. Investigators worked with clinicians and healthcare leaders in both cases to adapt interventions, overcome systemic barriers and ensure sustainability.
"Clinical psychologists assess patients' characteristics and contexts to choose treatments that support healthy behavior changes. Similarly, implementation scientists focus on behavior changes at organizational and system levels to ensure population-level access to high-quality care," said Meredith Boyd, PhD, research assistant professor of Medical Social Sciences in the Division of Implementation Science, who was a co-author of the study. “For this reason, clinical psychologists are well-suited to harness implementation science methods to improve behavioral healthcare.”
A key takeaway of the review is the need to prioritize health equity in implementation efforts, ensuring that all communities benefit from advancements in mental health care.
Additional takeaways include the need for policymakers and leaders to invest in implementation science to bridge the gap between research and practice, the importance of conducting further studies to refine implementation strategies and tailor treatments for varied communities, and the necessity of integrating implementation science training into clinical psychology programs to better prepare future professionals.
This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA).
