Métodos de pesquisa para o estabelecimento da eficácia das psicoterapias

In 2006, the American Psychological Association defined the concept of evidence-based practice in Psychology as an individualized process of clinical decision-making that occurs through the integration of the best available evidence with clinical expertise in the context of the characteristics, culture, and preferences of the patient. However, there is little consensus in the literature about what constitutes good evidence, what methods should be employed to produce them and the way they should be applied in the practice of the clinical psychologist. As a result, this article aims to present the three methods of empirical research that are appropriate to investigate the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions (randomized clinical trial, single case experimental design and case study), highlighting the scope and limits of each of them. It is hoped that this article contributes to the formation of Brazilian clinical researchers and therefore advance a greater participation of Brazilian Psychology in the movement of evidence based practice in Psychology.