Cited by 264Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsDigital Mental Health InterventionsMental Health Treatment and Access

The dose-response effect in routinely delivered psychological therapies: a systematic review

Robinson, Louisa, Delgadillo, Jaime, Kellett, Stephen·2020·Psychotherapy Research

Abstract

The dose-response effect refers to the relationship between the dose (e.g., length, frequency) of treatment and the subsequent probability of improvement. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the literature on the dose-response effect in routine psychological therapies delivered to adult patients with mental health problems. Twenty-six studies were eligible for inclusion. Different methodological approaches have been used to examine the dose-response effect; including survival analysis, multilevel modelling and descriptive cluster analyses. Replicated and consistent support was found for a curvilinear (log-linear or cubic) relationship between treatment length and outcomes, with few exceptions such as eating disorders and severe psychiatric populations. Optimal doses of psychotherapy in routine settings range between 4 and 26 sessions (4-6 for low intensity guided self-help) and vary according to setting, clinical population and outcome measures. Weekly therapy appears to accelerate the rate of improvement compared to less frequent schedules. Most of the reviewed evidence is from university counselling centres and outpatient psychotherapy clinics for common mental health problems. There is scarce and inconclusive evidence in clinical samples with chronic and severe mental disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1080/10503307.2019.1566676

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Authors
Robinson, L., Delgadillo, J., & Kellett, S.
Affiliations
University of Sheffield (GB)
Corresponding author
Delgadillo, Jaime
Venue
Psychotherapy Research
Published
2019-01-20
Volume
30
Issue
1
Pages
79-96
ISSN
  • 1050-3307 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-4381
OpenAlex
W2908544178
Cited by
264
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 48 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 61 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 2
FWCI
2.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychotherapy Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
dose-response relationship, psychotherapy, treatment duration, treatment frequency, treatment outcomes, common mental disorders, outpatient psychotherapy, eating disorders, severe mental illness
MeSH terms
Mental Disorders, Humans, Psychotherapy, Outcome Assessment, Health Care

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