Empirically-based Treatment?

Paul Matiuzzi's blog post nails the controversary about "empirically-based treatment"  for therapists: Read it here:  http://everydaypsychology.com/2011/09/yale-psychologist-calls-for-end-of.html 

Empirically-based research is a helpful guide to what works for some people some of the time. I absolutely follow the research in my field. But if something doesn't work for the client in front of you, you must try something else.

In about an hour, I'll be explaining to my editor why I can't, in good conscience, write the protocol-driven trauma treatment plan book she's asking for. Trauma clients are individuals with ideosynchratic biologies, temperaments, histories, and cultures. One treatment plan can't fit all. My last book was all about knowing as many therapies as possible, so that you can find what works for a client in front of you. 

For a scholarly (hilarious) article about the issue, check out this study on "Parachute use to prevent injury", that fails the empirical test for lack of a "no parachute use" control:  http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7429/1459.full

Comments

[Paul g. Mattiuzzi, ph.d.]

Robin:

Thanks for the endorsement of my article.

The parachute research was hilarious! It is a definite must read.

The latest dust up in the EBT movement elicited some comment about some of us being too old to learn new tricks.

I assume you feel honored, as I do, to be included among that group.

It is always going to be the case that some people want solutions while others want to understand and be understood.

I don't think this EBT thing is necessarily bad, and I don't think it is going to displace the psychodynamic tradition.

paul g. mattiuzzi, ph.d.

[Mary Bryan]

OMG, Robin! I was mildly amused up to "It is often said that doctors are interfering monsters obsessed with disease and power, who will not be satisfied until they control every aspect of our lives (Journal of Social Science, pick a volume)," when I completely lost it. Thank you for this gem!

[Robin Shapiro]

Paul, glad you liked it!

[Lothlorien]

Oh, that was hilarious!!!!! I am an MSW student in Social Work, so I am constantly up to my neck in research. This is awesome! I just rolled when I read,"The relevance to parachute use is that individuals jumping from aircraft without the help of a parachute are likely to have a high prevalence of pre-existing psychiatric morbidity. Individuals who use parachutes are likely to have less psychiatric morbidity and may also differ in key demographic factors, such as income and cigarette use.." LOL!!!! Thanks for sharing, and I agree wholeheartedly with the rest of your post.