Self-Report (SR) measures are widely used in the evaluation of therapeutic interventions. The
limitations of such measures have been only partly recognized. This article reports on the
evaluation of a treatment program for war veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) in which a battery of SR measures was applied. The repeated administration
of SR instruments showed no improvement, even some deterioration, in symptoms and social
functioning. These outcomes conflict with the evaluation of the program by participants and
therapists. Various interpretations of the conflicting findings are offered, among them the
possible direct effects of treatment on responses to SR instruments. These effects may distort the
true impact of the treatment on the subjects' behaviors and well-being.
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