Helping clinicians to use and learn from research-based systems: the OQ-analyst

Evidence is presented that suggests routine clinical practice is limited by therapist optimism about their personal effects on patients. This optimistic view prevents them from recognizing which of their patients are headed for a negative treatment outcome and taking steps to prevent poor outcomes for such cases. A formal method of measuring and monitoring patient treatment response that includes prediction of treatment failure is presented along with evidence that it more than doubles positive outcomes while substantially reducing deterioration. In addition, the collection of archival data helps therapists answer questions of interest to them, such as their own degree of effectiveness, and outcomes with minority clients, genders, and related clinical issues.