Patient-Centered Assessment in Psychotherapy: A Review of Individualized Tools

Abstract

There has been an increasing interest in patient‐centered assessment of psychological treatments. This article reviews the existing patient‐generated measures (PGMs) that have been used by clinicians and psychotherapy researchers to collect evaluation data from the patient perspective. A systematic review of literature was performed to identify PGMs in empirical studies between 1990 and 2014. Twenty tools were identified, of which three were designed to assess the outcome and 17 to assess the process of therapy. The characteristics of each are described and discussed, including psychometric data and evidence of clinical utility. This review helps professionals and researchers to implement the recommendation of health policies that advocate the importance of patient‐centered care.

Does outcome measurement of treatment for substance use disorder reflect the personal concerns of patients? A scoping review of measures recommended in Europe

“…As Slade and Thornicroft (2014) put it, "any attempt to squeeze personal identity into predefined boxes can be justifiably criticised for its loss of meaning" (p. 120). This problem could be overcome using a more patient-centred approach to outcome measurement, by using individualised measures (see Sales and Alves, 2016, for a review about these tools), which allow patients to express their personal problems. We advocate that individualised measures are used in combination with existing standardised measures, which provide population reference data.…”

“There Are Things I Want to Say But You Do Not Ask”: a Comparison Between Standardised and Individualised Evaluations in Substance Use Treatment

“…Nevertheless, interview-based individualised outcome measures are normally lengthy (e.g. 30-60 min) and require completion in a one-to-one format between patient and interviewer (for a review about individualised outcome measures, see Sales and Alves 2016).…”

Capturing and missing the patient's story through outcome measures: A thematic comparison of patient‐generated items in PSYCHLOPS with CORE‐OM and PHQ‐9

“…However, nomothetic PROMS may not identify and measure change on key variables that afflict individual depressed patients, including his or her specific context, difficulties and treatment priorities. To measure treatment outcomes without missing the uniqueness of the patient's condition requires an idiographic assessment approach, that is using psychological assessment instruments tailored for each individual . Individualized PROMS 2, also called patient‐generated outcome measures, evaluate the degree to which a patient changes on items selected by the patient.…”

“…Individualized PROMS 2, also called patient‐generated outcome measures, evaluate the degree to which a patient changes on items selected by the patient. Items correspond to personally defined problems or pertinent situational variables that can serve as indicators of change on aspects of importance to each patient …”