The silent voices of research: What can we do to help them speak?

Abstract

The authors challenge the legitimacy of making commissioning decisions based solely upon the current outcome research for the psychological treatments. They argue that this outcome data does not represent the treatment needs of the patient who fails to complete a therapy. They call for a shift in the focus of research in order to right this oversight.

Keywords:

• Evidence-based practice
• practice-based evidence
• psychological therapies
• complex needs
• client-based paradigm
• commissioning

This title has been inspired, in part, by Professor Peter Fonagy's comments regarding the potential power of the ‘silent results’ of absent efficacy studies – those unpublished studies that, at present, do not inform Evidence-Based Practice guidelines, (UKCP 2008 Research Conference, London).

This title has been inspired, in part, by Professor Peter Fonagy's comments regarding the potential power of the ‘silent results’ of absent efficacy studies – those unpublished studies that, at present, do not inform Evidence-Based Practice guidelines, (UKCP 2008 Research Conference, London).

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the psychotherapy team of the Berkshire Psychotherapy Service (Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust) for their support and contribution.

Notes

This title has been inspired, in part, by Professor Peter Fonagy's comments regarding the potential power of the ‘silent results’ of absent efficacy studies – those unpublished studies that, at present, do not inform Evidence-Based Practice guidelines, (UKCP 2008 Research Conference, London).