Randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of psychometric feedback on treatment outcome and its mediators and moderators in outpatient psychotherapy

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The requested three-year research project investigates in a randomized controlled trial the effectiveness as well as moderating and mediating factors of psychometric feedback. In the intended study a total of N = 423 patients will be included who applied for cognitive-behavioral therapy at the psychotherapy outpatient center of the University of Trier and were diagnosed with a depressive or an anxiety disorder (SCID-interviews). Participating therapists will be randomly assigned in blocks to one of three treatment conditions (two intervention groups and one control group). The patients will in turn be randomly assigned to one therapist. Patients of the control group (CG; n = 85) will be monitored concerning their psychological impairment but their therapists will not be provided with any feedback about the patients assessments. In both intervention groups (IG1: n = 169; IG2: n = 169) the therapists are provided with feedback about the patients self-evaluation in a computerized feedback portal. Therapists of the IG2 will additionally be provided with clinical support tools. The aim of this research project is to evaluate the general effectiveness of psychometric feedback and clinical support tools within a strict design (structured clinical interview, CG with repeated assessments, control for treatment integrity) in outpatient psychotherapy. Additionally, mediating (treatment length and therapists awareness of negative change) and moderating variables (attitudes towards feedback, feedback usage and diagnoses) of the feedback effect will be examined.