Providing feedback to psychotherapists on their patients' progress: clinical results and practice suggestions

J Clin Psychol. 2005 Feb;61(2):165-74. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20113.

Abstract

We describe and illustrate our system to measure, monitor, and feed back information about patient treatment. This clinical innovation relies on research-based clinical decision tools that provide psychotherapists with timely warnings when a patient's deviation from an expected treatment response foretells possible treatment failure. We summarize the results of four controlled studies using this methodology; the collective results suggest that measuring, monitoring, and predicting treatment failure (feedback) enhance treatment outcomes for patients who have a negative response. Clinicians are encouraged to employ these methods in routine practice despite their confidence in their own ability to predict patient outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Feedback, Psychological*
  • Humans
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods*
  • Psychotherapy*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome