Influence of psychotherapy research on clinical practice: An experimental survey.

Abstract

Psychologists evaluated a study that demonstrated the effectiveness of a child clinical treatment. The psychotherapy study varied on the described methodology, the childhood disorder treated, and the presence of information regarding the clinical significance of the findings. The true experimental version received higher methodology ratings than did the quasiexperimental and nonexperimental versions, and the version that reported the findings' clinical significance received higher methodology ratings than did the version that omitted this information. Ratings of the likelihood of implementing the tested treatment were influenced only by the methodology manipulation, with the true experimental version receiving the highest ratings. Narrative comments document the numerous factors that seemingly affect psychologists' reliance on psychotherapy data.

Evaluating the treatment manual as a means of disseminating empirically validated psychotherapies.

“…What media of dissemination will guide practitioners' transitions to empirically based practice? Numerous studies have demonstrated that practicing clinicians are largely influenced by books on psychotherapy, discussions with colleagues, and clinical workshops (Barlow, Hayes, & Nelson, 1984; Cohen, 1979; Sargent & Cohen, 1983). Treatment manuals are thus well situated to provide both clinically relevant material for practicing clinicians, and dissemination of an empirically supported base of effective interventions.…”