TAILOR-MADE AND STANDARDIZED THERAPY - COMPLEMENTARY TASKS IN BEHAVIOR-THERAPY - A CONTRARIAN VIEW

In medicine, decisions about treatment selection are mainly based on c linical diagnoses, whereas behavior therapists have typically assumed that it is necessary to tailor treatments based on individual problem analyses. However, various studies (including our own using patients w ith phobic anxieties) have failed to demonstrate an advantage for this procedure. At least for some disorders, clinical diagnosis appears to be a relevant and sufficient criterion for treatment selection. A pro cess model is presented that views treatment individualization and sta ndardization as complementary strategies. Although the application of techniques should be standardized as much as possible, translating gen eral method rules into a concrete intervention for a particular person will remain a task of individualization. Individualization will also remain necessary for the other primary task of the therapist: promotin g basic patient behavior that is conducive to treatment and a precondi tion for the successful application of interventions. Copyright (C) 19 96 Elsevier Science Ltd