International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy

Towards Alternative Criteria for the Validation of Psychological Treatments [Hacia unos Criterios Alternativos para la Validación de los Tratamientos Psicológicos]

Volume 7 Num. 3 - November 2007 - Pages 347-363

Authors:

Francisco Javier Carrascoso López and Sonsoles Valdivia

Abstract:

The Chambless Task Force criteria have become the standard for the research on outcomes of psychological treatments. However they present conceptual weaknesses and do not contemplate the vast complexity of the research and development of new psychological treatments. The current paper presents a critical review of such weaknesses to propose six sets of alternative criteria for the validation of psychological treatments, which are multidimensional and horizontal: Conceptual criteria, connections with basic research, research on processes of change, research on efficacy, research on effectiveness; and research on efficiency. The six sets of criteria emphasize the relation between the development of psychological treatments and the basic research on psychological processes, the research on the processes of change underlying a treatment, and the research on treatment efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency. Finally, future perspectives within our proposal are presented.

Key words:

Change processes, Efficacy, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Treatment validation,

Full Article

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