Who gets what treatment and why

Planning of treatment in psychiatry does not receive the same careful attention that is given to formulation and diagnosis. Very often the choice of the format and the orientation of the treatment is determined by the personal preference of the therapist. It is suggested that proven effectiveness of the treatment for the condition presented by the patient should be given a priority. Where no treatment is proven to be superior, such considerations as parsimony and availability of expertise should be taken into account.