Editor's Introduction: A Guide to the Empirically Supported Treatments Controversy

This paper introduces the special section reviewing the controversy resulting from the work of the Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures (1995; Chambless et al., 1996) of the Division of Clinical Psychology, American Psychological Association). This task force established a set of criteria for identifying Empirically Supported Treatments (ESTs), plus a list of psychosocial treatments for specific problems or disorders. Parallel projects are underway elsewhere, including Germany and the United Kingdom. This paper offers a “reader's guide” to the subsequent controversy over the “EST project,” summarizing the numerous arguments in favor of and opposed. It concludes with a summary of the main practical options which have emerged for dealing with the controversy, including recommendations for research and proposals for improving or broadening the EST project. Further dialogue on these issues is encouraged. Dieser Beitrag dient zur Einleitung eines Abschnittes in diesem Heft der ...