A PHASE MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY OUTCOME

The phase model of psychotherapy outcomes describes the sequential ord er of three categories of outcomes - patient wellbeing, symptoms, and levels of functioning. The phase model provides further definition to the dose-effect model, which holds that improvement occurs in a negati vely accelerating, curvilinear function. The phase model provides a me ans of sorting competing claims of treatment efficacy among psychother apy systematizers and advocates of varying treatment lengths. The phas e model also is useful as a teaching/supervisory heuristic in that it informs the supervisor or student of targets for psychotherapy process es at different points in the treatment process. Finally, the phase mo del provides a rational basis for assessing the cost-efficiency and co st-effectiveness of psychotherapy interventions.