Meaningful measurement in psychotherapy

Journal/Book: Psychotherapy. 1996; 33: 3900 E Camelback Rd #200, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Amer Psychological Assoc, Div Psychotherapy. 160-170.

Abstract: Surviving many challenges to demonstrate efficacy, psychotherapy is undergoing a new wave of intense scrutiny. Diversity in defining variables makes it difficult to decisively conclude that changes follow treatments. Two questions are pressing: What are the important results of psychotherapy to be gauged and how can these phenomena be best measured? If clinicians and researchers find no concensus in answer to these questions, how can anyone else be expected to recognize or accept the benefits of the practice? A simplified outline of psychotherapy is offered as a focus for considering several problems which complicate outcome measurement. A common sense review of the nature of available data is proposed as a starting point to develop efficient measures for data collection in the field. Disparate uses of such measures will suggest one over another. But considering the diverse population of clinicians and the gains to be made by enhanced understanding recommends quick, simple, and unobtrusive measures of multiple responses representing general areas of clinical interest. Some suggestions are made about the advantages expected from refining such a protocol of outcome measures.

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Keyword(s): PLACEBO

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