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Science as an ally of practice

M E Seligman1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. seligman@cattell.psych.upenn.edu

The American Psychologist
|October 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Critiques of the Consumer Reports (CR) psychotherapy study highlight sample bias and data limitations. However, claims about spontaneous remission and provider effectiveness are unfounded, necessitating further research into long-term therapy and provider qualifications.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychotherapy Research
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • The Consumer Reports (CR) 1995 study on psychotherapy effectiveness faced valid criticisms regarding sample bias, self-report limitations, and retrospective data.
  • Conversely, criticisms concerning "consumer satisfaction," spontaneous remission, small therapy effects, and comparable outcomes for doctoral versus nondoctoral providers were deemed less substantiated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the criticisms of the Consumer Reports (CR) psychotherapy study.
  • To differentiate between well-founded and poorly founded critiques.
  • To discuss the complementary roles of efficacy and effectiveness research in psychotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of methodological criticisms of the CR study.
  • Distinction between experimental (efficacy) and observational (effectiveness) research designs.
  • Discussion of the limitations of efficacy studies for evaluating long-term psychotherapy.

Main Results:

  • Well-founded criticisms of the CR study include sample bias and data limitations.
  • Poorly founded criticisms include attributing positive outcomes to spontaneous remission and questioning provider-level differences.
  • Efficacy studies are limited in assessing long-term psychotherapy, suggesting effectiveness studies are crucial.

Conclusions:

  • Effectiveness studies are essential for empirically validating long-term psychotherapy.
  • Further research is needed on long-term therapy, provider qualifications, and clinical judgment versus case management.
  • These studies are critical as clinical practice adapts to managed care environments.

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