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Abstract
In this article we examine several interconnected efforts to develop evidence-based practice in professional psychology. We first review the American Psychological Association's Division 12 Task Forces' development of criteria and listings for empirically supported psychological treatments. Next, we present related efforts to develop procedures to identify treatments that have established efficacy and to develop practice guidelines. The possible impact of these initiatives on Canadian professional psychology in the domains of training, credentialing, practice, and research are then examined. Finally, we present recommendations for steps that should be taken by Canadian psychology organizations to respond to these initiatives in order to ensure that psychological practice in Canada is optimally supported by scientific evidence.
In 1993, growing concerns with the future of psychological services in the context of managed health care, an increasing emphasis on accountability and cost containment, and a desire to emphasize the scientific basis of psychological treatments led Division 12 (Clinical Psychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA) to strike a Task Force on the Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures. The Task Force developed criteria for empirically evaluating psychological treatments and made recommendations as to the best methods for educating psychologists, the public, and mental health service payers about these treatments.
The work by Division 12 of APA is only one of a number of recent efforts to promote the use of scientific data in determining optimal services for patients or clients. The generic term for this increasing trend among health care professions is evidence-based practice. As we describe in this article, although the formats used to promote increased accountability through the use of scientific findings may vary, all have in common the goal of ensuring that people seeking treatment receive services that are informed by research findings.
In this article, we (i) review the role this and subsequent Division 12 task forces have had on defining what constitutes an empirically supported psychological treatment and (ii) present information on several related initiatives which attempt to further evidence-based practice by formulating "best practices" or practice guidelines. Based upon our review, we then discuss the implications such initiatives will have for Canadian professional psychology. We conclude the article with a number of recommendations for professional psychology training, credentialing, practice, and research in Canada.
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