The current study examined the effects of providing treatment progress information and problem-solving tools to both patients and therapists during the course of psychotherapy. Three hundred and seventy patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: treatment-as-usual, or an experimental condition based on the use of patient/therapist feedback and clinical decision-support tools. Patients in the feedback condition were significantly more improved at termination than the patients in the treatment-as-usual condition. Treatment effects were not a consequence of different amounts of psychotherapy received by experimental and control clients. These findings are consistent with past research on these approaches although the effect size was smaller in this study. Not all therapists were aided by the feedback intervention.

Research on the effects of progress feedback and clinician problem-solving tools on patient outcome has been limited to a few clinical problems and settings (Shimokawa, Lambert, & Smart, 2010). Although these interventions work well in outpatient settings their effects so far have not been investigated with eating-disordered patients or in inpatient care. In this study, the effect of providing feedback interventions was investigated in a randomized clinical trial involving 133 females diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorders not otherwise specified. Comparisons were made between the outcomes of patients randomly assigned to either treatment-as-usual (TAU) or an experimental condition (Fb) within therapists (the same therapists provided both treatments). Patients in the Fb condition more frequently experienced clinically significant change than those who had TAU (52.95% vs. 28.6%). Similar trends were noted within diagnostic groups. In terms of pre to post change in mental health functioning, large effect sizes favored Fb over TAU. Patients' BMI improved substantially in both TAU and the feedback condition. The effects of feedback were consistent with past research on these approaches although the effect size was smaller in this study. Suggestions for further research are delineated.

Assessing the number of patients who maintain their gains after the completion of therapy has been of interest to psychotherapy outcome researchers. The current study examines evidence related to the maintenance of treatment gains in individuals diagnosed with Cluster C personality disorders. Fifteen studies, published between 1982 and 2006, met the criteria for inclusion. The effect size standardized mean difference statistic was applied. In the majority of cases, most of the improvement occurred between pretreatment and posttreatment. However, social skills training often produced effect sizes that were larger for posttreatment follow-up. The study indicates that therapy gains are usually maintained at follow-up for Cluster C clients treated with cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic approaches as well as social skills training. Uncertainty remains whether DPD, AVPD or OCPD patients benefited most from therapy.

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