Guarantor Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ (9,620)	$ 2,151
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(6,170)	(9,799)
Proceeds from vehicle sales and rebates on vehicle leases	3,979	3,093
Other, net	(966)	(238)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,157)	(6,944)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on capital leases and other financing arrangements	(8,907)	(8,924)
Borrowings under line of credit		17,000
Repayment on line of credit		(17,000)
Repurchase of Notes	(22,790)
Payment on installment note and contingent consideration related to acquisition	(2,174)	(1,917)
Other, net	396	25
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(33,475)	(10,816)
Effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash	2,048	(2,797)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(44,204)	(18,406)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	121,317	57,059
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	77,113	38,653
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(8,060)	(6,385)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Intercompany transfers	(55,925)	(51,656)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(55,925)	(51,656)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany transfers	59,575	23,944
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	59,575	23,944
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,410)	(34,097)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	(82,879)	(52,037)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	(87,289)	(86,134)
Inventiv Health Inc [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(36,631)	(37,855)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(1,811)	(2,777)
Intercompany transfers	37,937	51,656
Other, net	(1,491)	(238)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	34,635	48,641
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on capital leases and other financing arrangements	(972)	(983)
Borrowings under line of credit		17,000
Repayment on line of credit		(17,000)
Repurchase of Notes	(22,790)
Payment on installment note and contingent consideration related to acquisition	(2,174)	(1,917)
Other, net	464	93
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(25,472)	(2,807)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(27,468)	7,979
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	55,226	19,643
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	27,758	27,622
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	15,585	37,407
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(1,401)	(5,199)
Proceeds from vehicle sales and rebates on vehicle leases	3,979	3,093
Intercompany transfers	17,988
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	20,566	(2,106)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on capital leases and other financing arrangements	(7,896)	(7,816)
Intercompany transfers	(28,255)	(30,924)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(36,151)	(38,740)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(3,439)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		3,439
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	19,486	8,984
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,958)	(1,823)
Other, net	525
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,433)	(1,823)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on capital leases and other financing arrangements	(39)	(125)
Intercompany transfers	(31,320)	6,980
Other, net	(68)	(68)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(31,427)	6,787
Effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash	2,048	(2,797)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(12,326)	11,151
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	148,970	86,014
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 136,644	$ 97,165