The Scientific Status of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies: Concluding Thoughts

This chapter evaluates the scientific status of diverse psychotherapies and encourages the widespread practice of evidence-based psychotherapies. The chapter discusses interventions that produce successful outcomes and are grounded in scientifically supported mechanisms of action from clinical practices that bear the patina of science yet lack crucial empirical support. As research progresses, the list of evidence-based psychological treatments for clinical conditions will no doubt change, as new treatments gain legitimacy and acceptance in the psychotherapy community and some old treatments relinquish their scientific status as empirically supported. The chapter focuses on identifying evidence-based psychological treatments for various clinical conditions. It provides a pivotal role in educating scholars and clients about the modern concept of evidence-based psychological treatments and in stimulating critical thinking in identifying, analyzing, implementing, disseminating, and further developing evidence-based psychological treatments.