Causal effects in psychotherapy: counterfactuals counteract overgeneralization

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

Abstract

Causal inference of psychotherapy effects is usually based on the theory of internal and external validity. The authors argue that as an inductive strategy it often leads to overgeneralization because it promotes neglect of specific clinical boundary conditions (such as practically relevant combinations of treatments, settings, patients, and therapists). Adding the counterfactual conceptualization of causal effects counteracts overgeneralization by considering individuals at a fixed time under two possible treatment conditions as basic units of a causal effect. Consequently, causal effects are regarded as varying in nature as local pieces of a global theory. The authors outline the main deductions from the counterfactual conceptualization with regard to understanding causality, average effects, bias, and study design and address some controversies in psychotherapy research.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)668-79
Seitenumfang12
FachzeitschriftPsychotherapy Research
Jahrgang20
Ausgabenummer6
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Nov. 2010
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 78650068399
ORCID /0000-0002-1697-6732/work/148632167

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use, Bias, Depressive Disorder/drug therapy, Humans, Models, Psychological, Outcome Assessment, Health Care/standards, Phobic Disorders/psychology, Psychotherapeutic Processes, Psychotherapy, Random Allocation, Treatment Outcome