The long-standing divide between research and practice in clinical psychology has received increased attention in view of the development of evidence-based interventions and practice and public interest, oversight, and management of psychological services. The gap has been reflected in concerns from those in practice about the applicability of…

Treatment integrity refers to implementing interventions as intended. Treatment integrity is critically important for experimental validity and for drawing valid inferences regarding the relationship between treatment and outcome. Yet, it is rarely adequately addressed in psychotherapy research. The authors examined barriers to treatment integrity…

Replies to the comments by Tyron, Silverstein and Auerbach, and Raps on the author's original article. I was very pleased to read these comments about the priority of bridging research and clinical practice and to have the benefit of further perspectives on how this goal might be achieved. The article to which these comments were addressed…

Research designed to establish the empirical underpinnings of psychotherapy relies heavily on arbitrary metrics, and researchers often do not know if clients receiving an evidence-based treatment have improved in everyday life or changed in a way that makes a difference, apart from the changes the arbitrary metrics may have shown. In other words,…

Drew 85 outcome studies from 9 journals from 1984 through 1986. Examined data in each article to provide estimates of effect sizes and to evaluate statistical power at posttreatment and follow-up. Findings indicated that power of studies to detect differences between treatment and no treatment was generally quite adequate given relatively large…

Treatment integrity refers to the degree to which an intervention is delivered as intended. Two studies evaluated the adequacy of treatment integrity procedures (including establishing, assessing, evaluating, and reporting integrity; therapist treatment adherence; and therapist competence) implemented in psychotherapy research, as well as…

Considers multiple design issues and strategies raised by comparative outcome studies including the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of alternative treatments; assessment of treatment-specific processes and outcomes; and evaluation of the results. (Author/BL)

Evaluated characteristics of research on child and adolescent psychotherapy, codifying 223 published studies of psychotherapy from 1970 to 1988 to characterize research, clinical, and methodological characteristics. Found treatment research focused on impact of techniques with little attention to influences that may moderate outcome. Other…

Reviews outcome evidence of psychotherapy for children and adolescents. Illustrates progress in treatment research, highlighting alternative treatments and factors that contribute to outcome in treatment of conduct problem children. Sees pace of progress thwarted by challenges of subject matter and deficiencies in current research. Nonetheless,…

Examined factors that predict dropping out of therapy among children referred for treatment of oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior. Several factors related to family (socioeconomic disadvantage, adverse child-rearing practice), parent (stress, life events, history of antisocial behavior), and child functioning (severity and…

The purpose of the present investigation was (a) to examine the effect of two variables in developing assertive behavior using covert modeling and (b) to develop a technique to assess ongoing imagery during treatment. The results indicated that imagining multiple models or model reinforcement enhanced behavior change. (Author)

Reviews advances in child behavior therapy by illustrating the range of problems treated and the techniques and accomplishments that have emerged. Discusses training of parents, teachers, peers, and children themselves in behavior change techniques, as well as general implications of therapeutic developments for enhancing child welfare. (GC)

Discusses the generalization of findings from analogue therapy research to the clinical situation. Rakover contends this leads to self-contradiction and lack of scientific progress and proposes theory testing. Kazdin suggests research to determine the relationship of analogue therapy to clinical practice. (JAC)

Evaluated alternative treatments for children (N=112) referred for severe antisocial behavior. Assigned children to one of three treatments: (1) problem-solving skills training (PSST); (2) PSST with in vivo practice (PSST-P); or (3) client-centered relationship therapy (RT). Found increases in prosocial behavior in PSST and PSST-P children while…

Discusses advances in psychotherapy research with children and adolescents, highlighting three central themes. Discusses scope of clinical dysfunctions, at-risk behaviors, and conditions to which children are exposed. Uses examples of research on negative affect, social behavior, and empathy to illustrate role of development in adjustment.…