PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE COMPARISONS BETWEEN DRUGS AND PSYCHOTHERAPY - LESSONS FROM THE CBT-VERSUS-PHARMACOTHERAPY EXCHANGE

In these concluding comments to the exchange among N. S. Jacobson and S. D. Hollon (1996), D. F. Klein (1996), I. Elkin, R. D. Gibbons,M. T. Shea, and B. F. Shaw(1996), and R. J. McNally (1996) issues of contin uing controversy are highlighted: the best ways to control for the all egiance effect, the complexities of assessing competence, and the role of pill placebos in comparisons between cognitive-behavior therapy (C BT) and pharmacotherapy. It is concluded that controlling for allegian ce within site is the optimal strategy, that measures of competence mu st take context into account, and that pill placebo controls are optim al but not essential to comparisons between CBT and pharmacotherapy.