The use of single-case methodology in psychotherapy research.

Discusses a new psychotherapy research strategy, the experimental analysis of single cases, which is being increasingly employed in behavior modification studies. The major single-case experimental designs used in these studies include the reversal design, withdrawal design, multiple schedule design, and multiple baseline design. Examples of these designs are presented, and the advantages and disadvantages of each design are critically discussed. Possible merits and limitations of applying controlled single-case methodology to the general area of psychotherapy research are also explored. It is concluded that in spite of limited purposes, single-case experimentation has proved to be a vital source of strength in the development and evaluation of behavior modification, and that it might be equally useful in the experimental study of other psychotherapy approaches. (26 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)