Pragmatic issues in design and implementation of a psychotherapy outcome study

Studies of the outcome of psychotherapy are becoming an important part of health policy development, cost control, and program evaluation. The authors describe steps in the design and implementation of an outcome study, including the selection of measurement instruments, the role of human subject review boards, the cost of the study and the desirability of computerization, the time frame for collecting data, and methods of keeping track of the data. They emphasize the importance of staff cooperation and discuss ways it can be fostered. They also stress the need for periodic reviews and identify issues that should be addressed in such reviews to keep the study on course.