A Stage Model of Behavioral Therapies research: Getting started and movingon from stage I

The progressively rigorous methodological requirements of conducting clinic al trials of behavioral treatments has placed a large burden on individual investigators, as treatment manuals, methods of evaluating treatment qualit y and fidelity, and persuasive evidence of the treatment's promise are now virtual requirements of receiving support for conducting a clinical trial o f a new or adapted treatment. A Stage Model of Behavioral Therapies researc h, by articulating the progressive stager of development and evaluation for behavioral treatments, recognizer the scientific merit and need for suppor t for treatment development and initial evaluation designated as stage 1, T his article describer the conduct of stage 1 research, including issues add ressed in stage 1 research, major design decisions confronted by investigat ors, the close relationship of stage 1 to stage If research and proposes a time line for stage 1 research.