Decision-Making in Modular Treatments: Avoiding Another Research-to-Practice Gap

Decision-making tools are a critical part of any clinical care for youth, but even more so in modular approaches, where decisionmaking happens throughout treatment. Unlike traditional evidencebased treatments (EBTs), where sessions may be outlined in the order in which they need to be implemented; modular approaches to therapy vary in degree of flexibility regarding order, duration, and which intervention elements to include in the treatment. Venturo-Conerly et al. (2022) reviewed the literature on decision guidance in child modular therapies and found that decision-making support systems (DSSs) come in a spectrum of options from very flexible to very rigid. Some treatments provide flowcharts prescribing the order of elements, while others can be organized and delivered in any order based on the provider’s preference. In this commentary, I will provide recommendations on how to avoid recreating the research-to-practice gap that existed (and continues to exist) in the implementation of EBTs so as to avoid replicating it as we design and implement decision support systems in psychotherapy. © 2023 American Psychological Association