In this clinical masterclass, Dr Ben Buchanan (Clinical Psychologist and NovoPsych Founder) and Dr David Hegarty (Head of Psychometrics at NovoPsych) explore the transition from intuition-based practice to Measurement-Based Care (MBC). Drawing a parallel to the history of thermometry in medicine, Dr Buchanan notes that while clinicians once relied on “the hand on the forehead” to detect fever, modern practice demands the precision of a “measuring stick” to provide better therapy outcomes for mental health clinicians and their clients.
Measurement-Based Care (MBC)—also referred to as Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM), Feedback-Informed Treatment (FIT), or Psychotherapy Progress Monitoring—is defined as the systematic use of psychological assessments to drive clinical decision-making at the individual client level.
Rather than relying solely on clinical judgment, MBC integrates psychometrics into the start, middle, and end of treatment to aid in clinical formulation and assessment.
NovoPsych offers a comprehensive suite of over 150 validated psychological scales for a wide variety of mental health-related presentations. Results from each completed assessment are presented with statistical data, useful graphs, and interpretive text. NovoPsych prioritises percentile ranks in psychometrics over raw scores, as they offer a more intuitive comparison against the general population; for instance, a score above the 90th percentile indicates a client is struggling significantly compared to 90% of the community.
The webinar demonstrated how specific assessments available on NovoPsych facilitate treatment response tracking. It included examples such as:
The case for MBC is supported by robust data and is a key aspect of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice. Meta-analyses (e.g., Tam & Ronan, 2017) demonstrate that routine monitoring improves treatment response with an effect size of d=.55. Furthermore, MBC is highly effective in reducing treatment dropout statistics by fostering a shared conceptualisation and increasing client engagement through tangible visual data.
Having objective data is also a critical tool for reflective practice. By using insights provided by MBC, clinicians can pivot their approach or seek targeted supervision when they receive information that confirms a client’s deterioration or disengagement from treatment. Being a mental health clinician is a demanding job, and when routine outcome monitoring indicates treatment success with improved client outcomes, it can be validating and rewarding for a clinician.
Modern software allows for seamless integration of MBC into clinical workflows via in-session iPad administration, QR codes in waiting rooms, or automated remote scheduling. For external reporting, interpretive text and graphical representations can be directly integrated into GP referral letters with outcome data. GPs report high satisfaction with these visual representations, which clearly illustrate the impact of interventions such as medication or specialised therapy.
Ultimately, moving beyond raw scores allows clinicians to validate the “invisible” experiences of their clients, turning intangible distress into a measurable path toward recovery.