Contemporary psychotherapy has been besieged by demands calling far evidence of its efficacy and far greater accountability of those who practice it. Thus, it is important for students to understand the special methodological problems associated with this type of research and to appreciate the important link between research and practice. This article summarizes a checklist of guidelines I use to teach students the basics of psychotherapy outcome research in several courses (e.g., abnormal, clinical, and even introductory psychology). The checklist is research-based and draws on techniques employed in recent representative psychotherapy outcome research studies. I suggest several variations in the pedagogical use of the checklist. Student evaluations support the usefulness of the checklist as a teaching tool.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BarlowD. H. (1996). Health care policy, psychotherapy research, and the future of psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 51, 1050–1058.
2.
ChamblessD. L.SandersonW. C.ShohamV.JohnsonS. B.PopeK. S.Crits-CristophP.BakerM.JohnsonB.WoodyS. R.SueS.BeutlerL.WilliamsD. A.McCurryS. (1996). An update on empirically validated therapies. The Clinical Psychologist, 49, 5–18.
3.
Connor-GreeneP. A. (1993). From the laboratory to the headlines: Teaching critical evaluation of press reports of research. Teaching of Psychology, 20, 167–169.
4.
CoughlinE. K. (1995, August 4). Psychotherapy besieged. The Chronicle of Higher Education, pp. A7, A12.
5.
JacobsonN. S.ChristensenA. (1996). Studying the effectiveness of psychotherapy: How well can clinical trials do the job?American Psychologist, 51, 1031–1039.
NewmanF. L.TejedaM. J. (1996). The need for research that is designed to support decisions in the delivery of mental health services. American Psychologist, 51, 1040–1049.
8.
RiderE. A. (1992). Understanding and applying psychology through use of news clippings. Teaching of Psychology, 19, 161–163.
9.
SeligmanM. E. P. (1995). The effectiveness of psychotherapy: The Consumer Reports study. American Psychologist, 50, 965–974.
10.
Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures, Division of Clinical Psychology, American Psychological Association. (1995). Training in and dissemination of empirically-validated psychological treatments: Report and recommendations. The Clinical Psychologist, 48, 3–24.
11.
VandenBosG. R. (Ed.). (1996). Outcome assessment of psychotherapy [Special issue]. American Psychologist, 51(10).
12.
VikenR. J. (1992). Therapy evaluation: Using an absurd pseudotreatment to demonstrate research issues. Teaching of Psychology, 19, 108–110.
13.
BeckJ. G.StanleyM. A.BaldwinL. E.DeagleE. A.IIIAverillP. M. (1994). Comparison of cognitive therapy and relaxation training for panic disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 818-826.
14.
BorduinC. M.MannB.J.ConeL. T.HenggelerS. W.FucciB. R.BlaskeD. M.WilliamsR. A. (1995). Multisystemic treatment of serious juvenile offenders: Long-term prevention of criminality and violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 569-578.
15.
EhlersA.StangierU.GeilerU. (1995). Treatment of atopic dermatitis: A comparison of psychological and dermatologieal approaches to relapse prevention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 624-635.
16.
FortmannS. P.KillenJ. D. (1995). Nicotine gum and self-help behavioral treatment for smoking relapse prevention: Results from a trial using population-based recruitment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 460-468.
17.
GreeneB.BlanchardE. B. (1994). Cognitive therapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 576-582.
18.
JamisonC.ScoginF. (1995). The outcome of cognitive bibliotherapy with depressed adults. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 644-650.
19.
JefferyR. W.WingR. R.ThorsonC.BurtonL. R.RaetherC.HarveyJ.MullenM. (1993). Strengthening behavioral interventions for weight loss: A randomized trial of food provision and monetary incentives. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 1038-1045.
20.
KendallP. C. (1994). Treating anxiety disorders in children: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 100-110.
21.
LabergeB.GauthierJ. G.CoteG.PlamondonJ.CormierH. J. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral therapy of panic disorder with secondary major depression: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 1028-1037.
22.
LochmanJ. E.ColeJ. D.UnderwoodM. K.TerryR. (1993). Effectiveness of a social relations intervention program for aggressive and nonaggressive, rejected children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 1053-1058.
23.
MontiP. M.RohsenowD. J.RubonisA. V.NiauraR. S.SirotaA. D.ColbyS. M.GoddardP.AbramsD. B. (1993). Cue exposure with coping skills treatment for male alcoholics: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 1011-1019.
24.
RosenJ. C.ReiterJ.OrosanP. (1995). Cognitive-behavioral body image therapy for body dysmorphic disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 263-269.
25.
StephensR. S.HoffmanR. A.SimpsonE. E. (1994). Treating adult marijuana dependence: A test of the relapse model. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 92-99.
26.
StolbergA. L.MahlerJ. (1994). Enhancing treatment gains in a school-based intervention for children of divorce through skill training, parental involvement, and transfer procedures. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 147-156.
27.
TurnerS. M.BeidelD. C.JacobR. G. (1994). Social phobia: A comparison of behavior therapy and atenolol. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 350-358.
28.
WaddenT. A.FosterG. D.LetiziaK. A. (1994). One-year behavioral treatment of obesity: Comparison of moderate and severe caloric restriction and the effects of weight maintenance therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 165-171.
