title: Methodologically sound, cost-effective research on the outcome of couple therapy.
abstract: Because of its potential to answer pressing applied questions about what treatments to use with which couples as well as its potential to answer basic questions about couple functioning, outcome research on couple therapy is vital to the field. This article describes the primary methodological issues that an investigator faces in conducting outcome research during treatment development, efficacy testing, and effectiveness evaluation. Descriptions of what has been done in the past are integrated with recommendations about what should be done in the future. Mindful of the potential expense of outcome research, the authors suggest ways in which questions can be investigated cost effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Christensen@psych.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Baucom
authors.forename: Christine Thuy-Anh
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stanton
mesh_terms: D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D016896:Treatment Outcome