Do Therapists Underestimate
Patient Preferences for Empirical
Support in Psychological Treatment?
John J Bergquist
Brett J Deacon, Ph.D.
Leilani J Hipol
Psychology Department
PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT
Introduction
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is
defined by the American Psychological
Association as an integration of research,
clinical expertise, and patient
characteristics (APA 2006). There has
been a relative failure regarding the
dissemination of evidence-based
psychological treatments, demonstrated
by the underutilization of evidence-based
treatments such as exposure therapy for
anxiety disorders.
Methods
Patients recruited from online support groups for panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder
(OCD) will be asked to complete a measure consisting of clinical vignettes depicting a person
seeking mental health treatment. Patients are then instructed to read each vignette carefully and
imagine that they are the person seeking mental health treatment. The vignettes depict either
personal growth/mild adjustment problems (n=2) or severe anxiety disorders (n=2). Patients will be
asked to rate the importance of certain relational (e.g. therapist empathy) vs. scientific
characteristics (e.g. empirical support) of psychological treatment for each type of clinical problem
depicted in the vignettes. Patients will also be asked to complete a measure containing questions
about their beliefs about exposure therapy (is exposure dangerous, effective, ethical, etc.).
Psychotherapists recruited from the “Find a Therapist” directory of the Psychology Today
(www.psychologytoday.com) website will be asked to complete the same measures, with
instructions to answer according to how they think the average patient would respond.
Sample Measures
The proposed study seeks to determine if
therapist perceptions about patient
treatment preferences are a barrier to the
dissemination of evidence-based practice
in general, and exposure in particular.
Importance of
the Study
The findings can potentially identify a
barrier to the dissemination of evidencebased treatments. Removal of these
barriers can allow for greater access of
high-quality of treatments for those
seeking out mental health services.
Hypotheses
It is hypothesized that therapists will
underestimate the importance patients
place on scientific characteristics of
psychotherapy for severe
psychopathology. It is also hypothesized
that therapists will overestimate the
level of negative beliefs patients have
regarding to exposure.
Data Analysis
Once collected, data will be analyzed to
determine whether a barrier to
dissemination of EBP and/or Exposure
exists due to therapist perceptions about
patient preferences in psychological
treatment. This barrier would be
identified by comparing scores on the
administered measures between and/or
within the two samples.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Dr. Deacon for his tremendous support
throughout the course of the project. A special thanks to the
McNair Scholars program, specifically Zackie and Susan for all
of their patience and invaluable knowledge. I would also like to
thank my good friend, and soon-to-be graduate student
mentor, Leilani Hipol. Without her encouragement and
experience I doubt I would be where I am now with respect to
both my status as a McNair scholar or my level of involvement
in research here at the University.