Signal and noise in psychotherapy. The role and control of non-specific factors

H. Omer, P. London

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Four major categories of non-specific or common factors are systematically analysed: relationship, expectancy, reorganising, and impact factors. The placebo control method should be discarded in psychotherapy research for two reasons: (a) sham treatment controls are unworkable because common factors in treatment are manifest only when real treatment is administered; and (b) the very events which were once thought of as 'non-specific' noise are now recognised as active therapeutic factors common to many schools.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)239-245
Number of pages7
JournalBritish Journal of Psychiatry
Volume155
Issue numberAUG.
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

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