How effective is systematic feedback of treatment progress to the therapist? An empirical study in a cognitive-bebavioural-orieted impatient setting

Background: Systematic feedback to therapists on their patients' progress has been shown to enhance outcome in at-risk patients in studies with predominantly moderately disturbed outpatients. Objective: Is it possible to replicate these findings in a CBT-oriented inpatient setting and are positive effects confined to at-risk patients? Methods: In a randomized controlled trial (N = 118) half of the therapists were provided with systematic feedback on their patients' progress. Results: Patients in the feedback group improved more than patients in the control group on all outcome measures. Conclusions: Systematic feedback to therapists on their patients' progress enhances outcome in inpatient CBT treatment. Future research should identify ways to reduce the monetary and psychological costs of feedback-providing systems, in order to facilitate their application in routine care settings.