Adherence Measurement in Treatments for Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Pursuing Clear Vision through Varied Lenses.

To extend the reach, transparency, and accountability for the implementation and outcomes of effective treatments in routine care, more clarity is needed about what happens in treatment. We attempt to (a) clarify terminology to describe and measure psychological treatment, and (b) consider what treatment adherence instruments can tell us about what happens in treatment. We reviewed the content of 11 adherence instruments for 14 evidence-based treatments for disruptive behavior problems in youth identified in an ongoing review of adherence measurement methods used in psychosocial treatment studies from 1980 - 2008. Item number, content, and level of detail varied widely. Implications are considered for the definition of effective treatments and design and testing of strategies to measure and monitor their delivery.