ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the evaluation of psychotherapy practice from a public health perspective, examining it through five distinct models. These five models are the organizational model, care-process model, consumer-evaluation model, efficacy model, and community-impact model. Each model has a distinct focus, intent, and place in the evaluation of facilities offering mental health treatment. The organizational model focuses on organization functioning and the ability to offer service, the care-process model concentrates on the care delivered, the consumer-evaluation model assesses the acceptability of care, and the efficacy model stresses the outcome of care; whereas the community-impact model focuses on the effects of the institution on the community. Each model offers unique and valuable data; the optimal evaluation would include data relevant to each of the five models. However, most facilities and providers are unable to draw on each kind of information. Some of these methods involve considerable cost, and some methods, such as impact studies, yield minimal rewards in relation to cost.
