title: Harnessing the Therapist Effect in Patient-Centered Mental Health Care Decision Making.
abstract: In this commentary, we address the critical importance of the research literature documenting therapist differences in skill and outcomes. In particular, we focus on the implications of therapist differences for patient-centered decision making, including the matching of patients to specific psychotherapists who have empirically-based track records of positive performance. In addition, we present preliminary results from a grant supported study of patients' values and preferences regarding the use of provider performance track records in routine mental health care decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, SUNY, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA. jboswell@albany.edu.
authors.forename: James F
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6214-0787
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Boswell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 612 Tobin Hall - 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA, 01003-9271, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Constantino
authors.affiliation: Outcome Referrals, Inc., 1 Speen St., Framingham, MA, 01701, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D057240:Patient Preference; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design
keywords: Health care decision making; Patient preferences; Psychotherapy outcome; Therapist effects