Several challenges are encountered while measuring outcomes for psychotherapy. One of these challenges involves the fact that it is almost impossible to measure psychotherapy. In the course of measuring psychotherapy, it is difficult to come up with a standard approach to reporting or tracking outcomes. Another challenge in respect to outcome-based behavioral healthcare involves the fact that most practitioners find it hard to incorporate some of these measurements into long-term treatment plans for patients. The outcome-based approach also comes with increased and more complicated paperwork. Therapists are more comfortable with the old way of doing things whereby treatment progressed uniformly. The other challenge that applies to outcome-based behavioral healthcare is that this approach is subject to inconsistencies. For instance, patients and treatment approaches are different but measuring these variables work under the assumption that conditions and patients are similar (Sperry, 2013). Among these three challenges, the most prominent one is the one that involves the difficulty in measuring psychotherapy. This challenge has contributed to the fact that is still hard to combine behavioral and physical healthcare. Outcome-based approaches are quite practical in the context of physical healthcare but they are yet to fit into behavioral healthcare models.
Two notable models of psychotherapy include psychoanalysis and humanistic therapies. Psychoanalysis therapy is aimed at changing the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that contribute to imbalance. The outcome of this therapeutic model is aimed at establishing a close relationship between patient and therapist to enable the patient to learn more about their behaviors. On the other hand, humanistic therapy involves equipping patients with the capacity to make sound decisions to enable them to achieve their full potential. These two models would benefit from outcome-based therapy but psychoanalysis would be most suited for this approach. Behavioral change within the psychoanalysis model is easier to measure and this makes it more relevant to the outcome-based approach.
Code of Ethics
There are several similarities and differences between the guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association. Both organizations are abbreviated as APA and over the years, they have had open differences in their approach. One of the main differences in guidelines involves the fact that psychiatry is centered around pharmacological medication, while psychology is focused on behavioral medication. Most psychiatrist guidelines offer practitioners modalities of interacting with drug-related treatments. On the other hand, psychological association guidelines prioritize behavioral therapy approaches. Psychiatrists have the option of treating patients using drugs but psychologists can only use this approach in collaboration with another medical practitioner (Pope & Vasquez, 2016). One discernable similarity between the two sets of guidelines is that they both give practitioners a wide range of choices when it comes to behavioral therapy. Some of these choices include therapy, placebos, and thought modification.
These codes of ethics are important to consumers because he/she can be able to know what to expect before embarking on a wellness mission. Furthermore, consumers need to be aware that they have a wide range of options when it comes to treatment for behavioral modifications. Overall, consumers can have a significant awareness of their treatment regimens when they deal with both psychiatrists and psychologists. For example, among the behavioral healthcare consumer pool, there are those individuals who believe that pharmaceuticals are better for treatment, while others favor therapeutic exercises.
References
Pope, K. S., & Vasquez, M. J. (2016). Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: A practical guide. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Sperry, L. (2013). Treatment outcomes in psychotherapy and psychiatric interventions. New York, NY: Routledge.