title: Considerations in treatment integrity: implications and recommendations for PTSD research.
abstract: In this article, the authors address the rationale for and uses of treatment integrity measurement in psychotherapy research, focusing on therapists' adherence and competence in trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder treatment research. The following issues are examined: (a) distinctions between adherence monitoring, performed contemporaneously with ongoing study treatments, and adherence evaluation, and the implications for outcomes analysis; (b) simultaneous measurement of adherence and competence; (c) selection of sessions for adherence/competence assessment and the need for concurrent outcome measurement, and (d) the association between therapist adherence, competence, alliance and treatment outcome. Recommendations regarding common problems in the implementation of adherence and competence measurement are made throughout. The article concludes with a summary of steps and considerations in decision-making with regard to treatment integrity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychotherapy Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, USA. Barberj@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Jacques P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Triffleman
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marmar
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D003657:Decision Making; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States