Uses and Abuses of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs): Potential Iatrogenic Impact of PROMs Implementation and How It Can Be Mitigated

Having been a national advocate for the use of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the UK for the last decade, I have become increasingly concerned that unless the potential iatrogenic impact of widespread policy requirement for use of PROMs (Department of Health, Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Strategy, 2012) is recognised and addressed their real potential benefits (Sapyta et al., J Clin Psychol 61(2):145–153, 2005) may never be realized. Drawing on examples from PROMs implementation in CAMHS in the UK (Wolpert et al., J Ment Health 21(2):165–173, 2012a; Child Adolesc Mental Health 17(3):129–130, 2012b). I suggest key ways forward if PROMs are to support best clinical practice rather than undermine it.