Shared challenges in psychiatric research in India and Sri Lanka

The need for good research in psychiatry has never been more important than in this era of ‘Evidence-based medicine’ (EBM).[1] The countries in south Asia have to rise to the challenge and abandon the emphasis placed on ‘Experiencebased medicine’, as was popular in the traditional systems of medicine – the art was handed down from father to son or guru to shishya (student). Evidence-based medicine does not abandon clinician experience, skills, and judgment, but rather complements it with the best available evidence and patient choice.[2] This article explores the challenges in obtaining the best available evidence in the south Asian context.