Limitations of manualized psychotherapy for everyday clinical practice

Outcome research is important to improving psychotherapeutic procedures. Empirical evaluation of ''manualized'' clinical procedures, both broad and narrow, is a valuable current research trend. However, the conditions of such research are far removed from the conditions that exist in everyday clinical practice. The limitations of present data on so-called ''validated treatments'' preclude conclusions about what forms of treatment to reimburse or include/exclude in graduate training programs. Future research should emphasize commonly used forms of treatment and more typical patient populations.