Clinical Psychology

derived from assessment information (such as functional
analysis), measurement principles, and research designs,
including single-subject time-series designs. The content
areas that I am most familiar with include health psy-
chology (sleep disorders, cardiovascular disorders, chronic
pain), experimental psychopathology, and marital dis-
tress. I am trying to learn more about calculus and physics
because many of their principles are relevant to under-
standing behavior problems.

What are the future trends you see for
clinical psychology?
There are many good trends in clinical psychology and
most are based on the advancement of the scientific
aspects of clinical psychology. The advancement of the
field will be associated with continued research and a
scholarly approach to clinical psychology, particularly
clinical assessment, as well as changes in the prolifera-
tion of methods of service delivery that are guided by
the outcome of research. Trends include:

1. An increasing emphasis on empirically validated
   treatments and the use of empirically validated
   assessment instruments.


2. An increasing emphasis on clinical case formula-
   tion to select the best treatments, as empirically
   supported treatment options expand and we are
   more familiar with the individual differences
   among clients with the same behavior problems.


3. An emphasis on ongoing evaluation of treatment
   process and outcome (time-series measurements),
   using valid measures, so that changes in programs
   can be implemented quickly.


4. In assessment, increasing use of alternative
   assessment strategies, such as handheld compu-
   ters, computerized interviews, analogue clinical
   observations, brief screening instruments, and
   specifically focused questionnaires.


5. Concepts and methods of psychology that com-
   bine information about our physiology, thinking,
   emotions, and actions.

The focus of the discipline is also likely to change:

1. An emphasis on the Ph.D. as a clinical supervisor
   and administrator.


2. A reduction in the number of expensive Psy.D.
   programs because of decreased payoff for the
   Psy.D. in private practice.


3. An increased focus on the science of clinical
   psychology.
   4. An increased focus on program evaluation by
   Ph.D.s (evaluating how well treatment programs
   are working at different agencies).

What future trends do you see in behavioral assessment?

1. Continued integration with mainstream psychol-
   ogy. Note that most articles in theJournal of
   Consulting and Clinical Psychologyuse some form
   of behavioral assessment method now, compared
   to approximately 0% in the 1960s.


2. Increasing use of computer technology—for exam-
   ple, ambulatory monitoring, handheld computers
   for self-monitoring, instrumentation in other ways
   (such as monitoring medication use or exercise),
   and computerized storage and analysis of data.


3. Increasing use of analogue clinic assessment—
   observation of parent–child interactions, marital
   interactions, social skills of abusive spouses in
   clinic settings.


4. More cost-efficient assessment: use of above pro-
   cedures with less time involvement.


5. Increased understanding of sources of error in
   measurement and ways to control for measure-
   ment errors; a continued emphasis on a scholarly,
   empirically grounded approach to psychological
   assessment.


6. Increasing sophistication in the functional analysis
   of clients (clinical case formulation) and matching
   treatments to the functional analysis.

Stephen N. Haynes

Psychology Dept., Univ. of HawaiiA

BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 261