Future directions in developing and evaluating psychological interventions

The goal of this chapter is to highlight several imperatives for continued progress with regard to treatment development for mental health conditions. Specifically, the importance of identifying core, transdiagnostic processes that can become the focus of treatment is emphasized, along with developing dimensional classification systems that reliably assess these targets. Additionally, techniques to confirm that components included in the treatment packages indeed engage these core processes are highlighted with the goal of ensuring that interventions are comprised of only active ingredients. Next, considerations for conducting treatment outcome studies specifically with transdiagnostic interventions are addressed. Finally, the rationale for moving away from the development of nomothetic, one-size-fits-all treatment protocols, in favor of personalized approaches are highlighted.