Why is research needed in clinical psychology? How do clinicians use research to develop effective treatment plans?

        The significant concerns of clinical psychology are assessing, understanding, and treating psychological and behavioral disorders and problems. Clinical psychology, attempts using the principles of psychology for predicting, understanding, and alleviating behavioral, social, psychological, biological, emotional, and intellectual components of human functioning (Plante, 2011). Research is an integral aspect of clinical psychology in both clinical and academic settings. Clinical psychology is a science and as a science clinical psychology cannot blindly assess and treat psychological and behavioral disorders and problems, or understand psychological and behavioral disorders and problems that can be detrimental to human functioning. Proceeding in such a blind manner can result in ineffective treatments and misunderstandings of such disorders and problems which can result in detrimental harm to human functioning. Therefore, more harm than good would result in regard to diagnosing or misdiagnosing the problems affecting clients and patients, and treating clients and patients; because of blind misunderstandings.

          Therefore, clinical psychology must use research as its foundation through a means of utilizing the scientific method and psychological principals when conducting activities or research related to assessing, understanding, and treating psychological and behavioral disorders and problems. Thereby, clinical psychologist or clinicians use research to understand and assess psychological and behavioral disorders and problems, and to develop effective treatment methods for alleviating the effects of such disorders and problems in regard to clients and patients. Also, such research allows clinicians to pinpoint which treatment methods are more effective for particular clients and patients, and which treatment methods should be used in regard to particular psychological and behavioral disorders and problems.  

Reference

Plante, T. G. (2011). Contemporary Clinical Psychology (Third ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc.