Dose-effect and duration comparability studies provide direction for effective time guidelines for outpatient psychotherapy. Current managed care approaches appear inappropriate in emphasizing usage rather than effectiveness curves. Guidelines are suggested for basic, intermediate, and extended treatment with different goals, dosages, and managed care policies.Probably the most controversial feature of managed mental health care is limiting the duration of outpatient psychotherapy (Herron, 1992;Lowman, 1992). The advantages and disadvantages of this policy have been described by Haas & Cummings (1991). This article reviews the empirical evidence that can be used to provide time guidelines for effective outpatient treatment.Although there are a limited number of studies, and they are restricted in their comparability by differences in methodology, they do provide direction for establishing more effective policy than currently exists. Essentially they suggest that a variety of results can be accomplished with different dosages (duration) of psychotherapy. Thus the most effective policy would be a function of the desired goals that in turn are endorsed by the society in its establishment of funding plans for outpatient psychotherapy.

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