A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Measurement Feedback Systems in Treatment for Common Mental Health Disorders

Abstract

To investigate the efects of measurement feedback systems (MFSs) in therapy on mental health outcomes through a literature review and meta-analysis. Using a three-level modeling approach, we conducted a meta-analysis of all efect sizes from randomized controlled studies of MFSs used in the treatment of common mental health disorders. Eighty-two efect sizes were extracted from the thirty-one included studies. Analyses were performed to consider the post-treatment efects of the MFS-assisted treatment compared to treatment as usual. A separate analysis was done for the subgroup “not-on-track” patients as it is theorized that MFSs will be clinically useful because they make therapists aware of patients who fail to progress. MFSs had a signifcant efect on mental health outcomes (d=0.14, 95% CI [0.082–0.206], p<.001). Further analysis found a larger efect in patients identifed as less respondent to therapy, the “not-on-track” group (d=0.29, 95% CI [0.114, 0.464], p=.003). Moderation analyses indicated that the type of outcome measurement and type of feedback system used, and whether it was used for a child and youth or adult population, infuenced efect sizes. MFSs seem to have a small positive efect on treatment outcomes. The efects seem to be larger for “not-on-track” patients, the group of patients that would usually not beneft much from treatment.