Measurement and psychotherapy

TLDR

Measurement underpins evidence‑based practice and its advances should be applied to psychotherapy. The study reviews developments in measurement relevant to psychotherapy. The review examined measurement domains including interventions, case formulation, treatment integrity, performance, definitions, therapeutic alliance, and routine outcome measurement. Modern measurement methods support evidence‑based and practice‑based evidence, enabling a professional self‑management model applicable across psychiatry and medicine.

Abstract

Background Measurement is the foundation of evidence-based practice. Advances in measurement procedures should extend to psychotherapy practice. Aims To review the developments in measurement relevant to psychotherapy. Method Domains reviewed are: (a) interventions; (b) case formulation; (c) treatment integrity; (d) performance (including adherence, competence and skilfulness); (e) treatment definitions; (f) therapeutic alliance; and (g) routine outcome measurement. Results Modern methods of measurement can support ‘evidence-based practice’ for psychological treatments. They also support ‘practice-based evidence’, a complementary paradigm to improve clinical effectiveness in routine practice via the infrastructure of Practice Research Networks (PRNs). Conclusions Advances in measurement derived from psychotherapy research support a model of professional self-management (practice-based evidence) which is widely applicable in psychiatry and medicine.