A naturalistic comparison of the effectiveness of trainee and qualified clinical psychologists.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of clinician type on the outcome for adult mental health clients treated by trainee and qualified clinical psychologists.


METHODS
Naturalistic, non-random between-participants group design: a group of 60 adult mental health out-patients treated by trainees and a matched group of 60 patients treated by qualified clinical psychologists.


METHODS
Participants completed a range of established measures at assessment and outcome of their treatment during routine clinical practice.


RESULTS
Significant improvements in mental health were made for both groups from assessment to outcome; however, no significant effect of clinician type was evident.


CONCLUSIONS
A variety of factors (e.g. quantity of supervision) contributing to trainee effectiveness are identified and discussed.
Buckley
Jessica V
JV
Psychological Services, St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield, UK. jessica.buckley@swyt.nhs.uk
Newman
David W
DW
Kellett
Stephen
S
Beail
Nigel
N
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009934:Organization and Administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000193:education*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education*; D016896:Treatment Outcome