A Practical Guide to Applying the Delphi Technique in Mental Health Treatment Adaptation: The Example of Enhanced...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Research
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Evidence-based treatments are frequently modified for diverse populations and delivery methods.
• Expert consensus methods, such as the Delphi procedure, are underutilized in mental health treatment adaptation.
• Adapting treatments is crucial for clinical practice and research needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the Delphi procedure.
• To offer a practical guide for using the Delphi method in treatment adaptation.
• To demonstrate the application of the Delphi procedure in modifying an intervention for a new population.

Main Methods:

• A three-round Delphi procedure was employed.
• Data were gathered from Department of Veterans Affairs clinical subject matter experts.
• Round 1 involved semi-structured interviews; Rounds 2-3 used surveys with feedback loops.

Main Results:

• Over 91% of items reached consensus after Round 2, with the rest achieving consensus by Round 3.
• Modifications included minor structural and content edits.
• Time allotments within the intervention were re-balanced.

Conclusions:

• Consensus methods, like the Delphi procedure, can facilitate mental health treatment adaptation.
• This methodology enhances treatment feasibility and promotes content and ecological validity.
• The Delphi procedure offers a flexible and resource-efficient approach for treatment adaptation.