RECIPES FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY

Stiles and Shapiro (1994) try to make a case for abandoning the model of drug research in exploring psychotherapy effectiveness-specifically , the idea that psychotherapy can be viewed in terms of effective ''in gredients.'' Although provocative, their analysis can be challenged on methodological grounds involving failure to use multivariate analytic approaches, incomplete exploitation of advantages of growth curve ana lysis, and lack of attention to issues of statistical power. Acceptanc e of the conclusions proffered by Stiles and Shapiro would have negati ve effects on psychotherapy research and practice, and the case agains t the search for effective elements in psychotherapy process is not ye t strongly made.