A Commentary on Psychosocial Interventions and Evidence-Based Practice: Time for Reflection About What an ‘Ideal’ Psychosocial Intervention Would Look Like in Clinical Psychology?

Abstract

Controlled efficacy/effectiveness trials throughout the world have reached a high standard from a methodological stance, but what do we regard as the ideal or elegant intervention in clinical psychology? This article presents six key points as the gold standards of psychosocial interventions by which treatment efficacy/effectiveness research with children, adolescents and adults might be evaluated: (1) theoretical rationale and conceptualisation of clinical dysfunction, (2) clear problem identification and target client group, (3) program features such as realistic goal setting, flexibility, and time-limited interventions, (4) manual-based treatments, (5) research support including clinically significant outcomes, and (6) acceptability/social validation of clients and society. Finally, we discuss the usefulness of such a framework for mental health professionals and clinical researchers.