Open AccessImplementing evidence‐based treatment protocols: Flexibility within fidelity
Author(s) -
Kendall Philip C.,
Frank Hannah E.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical psychology: science and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1468-2850
pISSN - 0969-5893
DOI - 10.1111/cpsp.12271
Subject(s) - dissemination , flexibility (engineering) , fidelity , variety (cybernetics) , protocol (science) , computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , mental health , empirical evidence , process management , psychology , medicine , business , psychotherapist , alternative medicine , artificial intelligence , telecommunications , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , epistemology , pathology
Efficacious psychological treatments exist for a variety of mental health conditions, but many who could benefit from these treatments do not receive them. Increasing efforts have been made to disseminate effective protocols, and several approaches for implementing such treatments have been proposed, including the use of protocols, principles, practices, and policies. We discuss the relative merits of disseminating protocols and highlight the importance of employing flexibility within fidelity . We describe the benefits of using protocols, including their empirical support, guidance for decision‐making, and structure to facilitate training and enhance treatment integrity. We also address several criticisms that have been offered against protocols, citing data that indicate that many of the criticisms are not warranted.