1. Evaluating Therapies

2. Effectiveness of psychotherapy
Clients’ perceptions (testimonials)
Bad coming in, better coming out – is it therapy or time?
Did I pay for nothing?
Positive view of therapists even if not better
Don’t forget:
Often ignore some testimonials and remember the ones we want
Need to compare to control group (McCord, 1978,1979)

3. Effectiveness of psychotherapy
Clinicians perceptions
Failures are someone else’s – one client = multiple successes
All treatments seem to be successful
Placebo effect
Regression toward the mean
Outcome research
Eysenck (1952) ineffective analysis
Mary Lee Smith et al (1980) did meta-analysis
Those undergoing therapy are more likely to improve than those not in therapy

4. Relative effectiveness of therapies
According to the Society of Clinical Psychology:
Cognitive Therapy, interpersonal therapy, & behavioral
Best for depression
Cognitive, exposure, & stress inoculation training
Best for anxiety
Cognitive-behavior therapy
Used with bulimia
Behavior modification
bed wetting
The more specific the problem the more effective the therapy
Need well trained therapists to continue effectiveness
Commonalities
Culture & values

5. Biochemical therapies
Drug therapies
Brain stimulation
psychosurgery
Preventing psychological disorders