Behavioral Health Care Settings Research Articles

Behavioral health treatment redesign in managed care settings.

This article addresses the general trends and research directions taking place in managed care behavioral health care settings. Such challenges as the demands for accountability and cost-effectiveness have led to the pressing need for (a) sound outcomes measurement systems, (b) standardization of empirically supported treatment protocols, and (c) more concerted efforts to bridge the gap in psychology between efficacy research occurring in controlled, often academic settings, and effectiveness research whereby tested protocols are implemented and evaluated within actual practice settings. The treatment literature of three diagnostic groups—anxiety, mood disorders, and eating disorders—is discussed regarding present empirical support and research directions.