Measuring Memory for Treatment Using Patient Conceptualizations of Clinical Vignettes: A Pilot Psychometric Study in the Context of Cognitive Therapy for Depression

Abstract Background Patient memory for psychological treatment contents is a promising transdiagnostic mechanism of change, but there little consensus concerning its measurement. We conducted pilot psychometric investigation the Conceptualization Task, novel measure patient treatment. Methods Data were from trial comparing cognitive therapy-as-usual to therapy plus Memory Support Intervention (MSI) adults with depression ( N = 171). For patients read clinical vignettes and provided written responses assess three facets conceptualization: identifying contributing factors psychopathology, making intervention recommendations, providing rationale recommendations. Higher scores given reflecting accurate theoretical model change strategies used in Results The Task showed excellent inter-rater reliability sensitivity during treatment, only fair test–retest insufficient internal consistency. Findings supported discriminant validity measures education, IQ, general functioning, not convergent existing Criterion analyses that some aspects associated therapist use support MSI outcome. However, findings mixed, effect sizes small, results did remain statistically significant after correcting multiple comparisons. Conclusions Further refinement testing needed before may be contents.