Effectiveness of psychological therapies: A review of the current situation

Abstract

Patients are now seeking therapeutic assistance not only for traditional mental disorders. Evidence-based clinical psychology implies integrating clinical expertise with research evidence. However, there are many discrepancies between research and clinical practice: a treatment proved effi cacious in a study is not always effi cient in ordinary clinical practice. Furthermore, there are limitations to generalizing research results to ordinary clinical practice, so their acceptance by clinical professionals is still quite limited. Relevant ethical questions related to clinical practice are considered, and psychological characteristics of the therapist that have a bearing on therapeutic success are analyzed. Finally, some future challenges are named and new lines of research are proposed.