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IntroductionConference Location In a climate of limited financial resources, both mental health services research and practice could arguably benefit from attention to “efficiency.” For research, this might rely on the creation of “economies of scale” to improve the research process by utilizing existing research and practice networks; pooling existing streams of data; and improving the efficiency of recruitment, randomized assignment, service monitoring, and outcome analysis. Improving research efficiency could enable large-scale intervention studies involving multiple providers and agencies to be conducted at a marginal cost. For practice, improving efficiency may refer to improving access to services, streamlining delivery of high-quality mental health services, and increasing the widespread dissemination and implementation of effective interventions that raise the quality of standard care and improve symptomatic and functional outcomes. Mental Health Services Research (MHSR) 2009 will engage leading minds in addressing the challenge of improving the efficiency of research and practice. Progress will directly promote Strategic Objective 4 of the NIMH Strategic Plan, “Enhancing the Public Health Impact of NIMH-funded Research.” (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/) This year’s conference is designed to present and discuss research studies that represent the diverse research programs within the Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology Branch (SRCEB) of the Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/dsir/services-research-and-epidemiology-branch/index.shtml) and that contribute to a portfolio addressing the need to increase the efficiency of research and mental health services delivery. The goal of MHSR 2009 is to stimulate new ideas and partnerships that will foster innovative mental health services research focusing on improving public health and mental health services delivery.
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