title: Evaluation of Treatment Integrity: The Treatment Specificity Index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To differentiate between treatments in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), therapies need to display not only high purity but also high specificity. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the benefits of calculating a treatment specificity index for the evaluation of treatment differentiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on an RCT of relapse prevention in depression, comparing a cognitive with a psychoeducational treatment, the specificity and the purity index were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As indicated by the specificity index, both conditions differed in their levels of implemented specific and common interventions. A significant relationship was found between symptom change before a therapy session and treatment specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The specificity index is an appropriate method for enhancing the internal validity of RCTs in evaluating treatment integrity.
authors.affiliation: University of Frankfurt.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grikscheit
authors.affiliation: University of Mainz.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weck
authors.affiliation: University of Tuebingen.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hautzinger
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Esslingen.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heidenreich
authors.affiliation: University of Frankfurt.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weigel
authors.affiliation: University of Frankfurt.
authors.forename: Visar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rudari
authors.affiliation: University of Frankfurt.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schimming
authors.affiliation: University of Frankfurt.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stangier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: purity index; adherence; treatment differentiation; treatment integrity; treatment specificity index