Does Clinical Evidence Reach Psychological Treatments? Psychotherapy Status in Argentina

This study examined the role of research in shaping the theoretical orientations and clinical decision-making of Argentine psychotherapists. A total of 283 clinical psychotherapists completed an online survey that assessed demographic information, factors influencing their choice of theoretical orientation, reliance on various sources of information (e.g., research, supervision, personal experience), and attitudes toward empirical research. After exclusions, 262 participants were analysed using multivariate and cluster analyses. Results indicated that therapists across all orientations relied more on personal experience, supervision, and books than on empirically supported publications. However, CBT practitioners relied more on scientific articles, clinical guidelines, and evidence-based practices than psychoanalysts, who emphasised personal therapy and were less likely to adopt new research-based interventions. Cluster analyses identified four distinct groups, which differed significantly in terms of mean age and clinical workload. Younger therapists (predominantly CBT) were more open to empirical research, whereas older therapists (mainly psychoanalytic) were more conservative about integrating research findings. These findings highlight a persistent gap between research and practice in Argentine psychotherapy. Future research should explore how training programs and institutional policies can foster a stronger integration of empirical evidence across all theoretical orientations in Argentina.