Handbook of assessment and treatment planning for
psychological disorders
Edited by
Martin M. Antony
David H. Barlow
Chapter 1
The Role of Assessment in Evidence-Based Practice
John Hunsley
Eric J. Mash
Page 3:
Key Health Care Trend (Past 20 Years):
• Promoting evidence-based practices
• Global movement across countries and health professions
• Goal: Provide the most effective health care services
Definition of Effective Health Care Services:
• Not about quantity or technological sophistication
• Extra resources ≠ improved client outcomes
• Elaborate diagnostics ≠ better clinical decisions
• Focus on services that have been proven to work for each client's needs
Historical Adoption in Psychology:
• Science as the foundation for psychology training and service delivery
• Recent embrace of evidence-based practice in organized psychology
• American Psychological Association (APA) divisions establish task forces to promote
research evidence use
• APA adopts evidence-based practice policy in 2006
Evidence-Based Psychological Practice (EBPP):
• Part of the broader evidence-based practice movement
• Emphasizes integration of:
• Systematically collected data
• Clinical expertise
• Client preferences
• These factors guide psychologists in considering service options for clients
Page 4:
Chapter Focus: Evidence-Based Assessment (EBA) in EBPP:
• EBA's role in informing and enhancing EBPP
• Ensuring evidence-based services for clients
Nature of EBPP:
• Encompasses both treatment and assessment
• EBA's critical role in ensuring evidence-based treatments
, • Discussion of EBA's purposes:
• diagnosis,
• case conceptualization,
• treatment planning,
• treatment monitoring,
• and evaluation
Scientific and Clinical Issues:
• Key issues linked to assessment purposes
• Importance of addressing biases and heuristics in psychological service provision
• Use of decision-making aids to reduce negative effects
Complexity of Evidence-Based Psychological Practice (EBPP):
• Ongoing evaluation of knowledge and skills
• Continuous education through:
• reading, presentations, and workshops
• Balancing:
• clinical needs,
• administrative tasks,
• and education
• Critical appraisal of decisions during client care
Client-Centered Approach:
• Incorporating client characteristics and preferences
• Empirical evidence often at the nomothetic level
• Tailoring services to individual client needs and resources
• Adapting services to real-world clinical practice demands and constraints
EBPP's Contribution:
• Perception that EBPP may not bring much new to psychology practice
Page 5:
Importance of Training Programs and Licensing Boards:
• Training programs impart psychology knowledge to graduate students
• Licensing boards have continuing education requirements for psychologists
Gaps in Using Science in Psychology Practice:
• Recent surveys highlight deficiencies in integrating science into clinical practice
• Weissman et al. (2006) findings:
• Lack of EBT training in clinical psychology programs
• Luebbe et al. (2007) survey results:
• Empirical support not a top factor in treatment planning
• Nelson and Steele (2008) survey results:
• Colleague recommendations and ease of learning prioritize over
randomized controlled trials
• Work Needed for Widespread EBT Adoption:
• Client access to EBTs needs improvement
psychological disorders
Edited by
Martin M. Antony
David H. Barlow
Chapter 1
The Role of Assessment in Evidence-Based Practice
John Hunsley
Eric J. Mash
Page 3:
Key Health Care Trend (Past 20 Years):
• Promoting evidence-based practices
• Global movement across countries and health professions
• Goal: Provide the most effective health care services
Definition of Effective Health Care Services:
• Not about quantity or technological sophistication
• Extra resources ≠ improved client outcomes
• Elaborate diagnostics ≠ better clinical decisions
• Focus on services that have been proven to work for each client's needs
Historical Adoption in Psychology:
• Science as the foundation for psychology training and service delivery
• Recent embrace of evidence-based practice in organized psychology
• American Psychological Association (APA) divisions establish task forces to promote
research evidence use
• APA adopts evidence-based practice policy in 2006
Evidence-Based Psychological Practice (EBPP):
• Part of the broader evidence-based practice movement
• Emphasizes integration of:
• Systematically collected data
• Clinical expertise
• Client preferences
• These factors guide psychologists in considering service options for clients
Page 4:
Chapter Focus: Evidence-Based Assessment (EBA) in EBPP:
• EBA's role in informing and enhancing EBPP
• Ensuring evidence-based services for clients
Nature of EBPP:
• Encompasses both treatment and assessment
• EBA's critical role in ensuring evidence-based treatments
, • Discussion of EBA's purposes:
• diagnosis,
• case conceptualization,
• treatment planning,
• treatment monitoring,
• and evaluation
Scientific and Clinical Issues:
• Key issues linked to assessment purposes
• Importance of addressing biases and heuristics in psychological service provision
• Use of decision-making aids to reduce negative effects
Complexity of Evidence-Based Psychological Practice (EBPP):
• Ongoing evaluation of knowledge and skills
• Continuous education through:
• reading, presentations, and workshops
• Balancing:
• clinical needs,
• administrative tasks,
• and education
• Critical appraisal of decisions during client care
Client-Centered Approach:
• Incorporating client characteristics and preferences
• Empirical evidence often at the nomothetic level
• Tailoring services to individual client needs and resources
• Adapting services to real-world clinical practice demands and constraints
EBPP's Contribution:
• Perception that EBPP may not bring much new to psychology practice
Page 5:
Importance of Training Programs and Licensing Boards:
• Training programs impart psychology knowledge to graduate students
• Licensing boards have continuing education requirements for psychologists
Gaps in Using Science in Psychology Practice:
• Recent surveys highlight deficiencies in integrating science into clinical practice
• Weissman et al. (2006) findings:
• Lack of EBT training in clinical psychology programs
• Luebbe et al. (2007) survey results:
• Empirical support not a top factor in treatment planning
• Nelson and Steele (2008) survey results:
• Colleague recommendations and ease of learning prioritize over
randomized controlled trials
• Work Needed for Widespread EBT Adoption:
• Client access to EBTs needs improvement
