A Review of Treatment Decision-Making Models and Factors in Mental Health Practice

Abstract

Treatment decision making has been influenced by the evidence-based practice movement, which encourages practitioners to make decisions based upon current research evidence, practice wisdom and ethics, and client values or preferences. This article offers a review of the treatment decision-making literature to identify decision-making drivers based on characteristics of the therapist and client. The narrative review includes surveys, case studies, and naturalistic studies of factors and processes involved in treatment decision making for mental health treatment. Naturalistic studies of decision-making factors reveal client problem formulation and motivation have a significant impact on treatment decision making. Implications for the conceptualization of evidence-based practice in social work and future directions for research in decision making are discussed.