Prevention of Treatment Failure: The Use of Measuring, Monitoring, and Feedback in Clinical Practice

For psychotherapists, those training them, and administrators, Lambert (psychology, Brigham Young U.) explains how to identify patients who fail to benefit or worsen from treatment, and increase positive outcomes. He outlines a method of monitoring client mental health vital signs through formal assessment. He begins with a discussion of the history of psychotherapy practice and the measurement of outcomes, then describes specific measurement tools and methods that can provide feedback, the scientific foundation for changing practice though inclusion of assessment and prediction, and studies illustrating the benefits. In the final section, issues such as the effects of therapists, outcomes across minorities, the relationship between client satisfaction and outcome, and intake interviews are addressed. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)