Bridging the Disconnection between Applied Research and Practice: A Review of Treatments That Work: Empirically Supported Strategies for Managing Child Behavior Problems by Ed Christophersen and Susan Mortweet

In recent years, behavior analysts have lamented a disconnection between applied research and practice. In their book,  Treatments That Work: Empirically Supported Strategies for Managing Child Behavior Problems , Christophersen and Mortweet (2001) have attempted to bridge this gap for medical and behavioral health providers alike by describing empirically supported treatments, derived from behavior therapy and its application, that are specifically designed for challenging problems commonly seen in typical children. The book is clearly intended for both primary care physicians and behavior therapists, and in this article, we review the extent to which the book meets the needs of each. Discussion centers on the extent to which the book can meet the need for both technical precision and conceptual breadth in training of behavior therapists. We conclude that, in making explicit the connections between research and practice, the authors have provided a useful clinical teaching tool and have also raised important questions about how best to establish collaborative relationships with physicians and promote the use of behavioral technology in primary care.