Editor-in-Chief Lecture
Author
Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
In contemporary clinical psychology, we are witnessing the development and expansion of treatment protocols grounded in diverse theoretical orientations. Once a therapeutic program is published, the inclination toward its utilization tends to increase. In recipient countries, the proposed program is translated and subsequently either implemented directly in clinical practice or employed within clinical research contexts.
However, a fundamental question occupies the minds of professionals: can a given therapeutic program be directly translated and immediately applied? A parallel concern has long been raised regarding psychological assessment instruments—namely, whether the mere translation of a questionnaire permits its direct use in a new cultural context, or whether psychometric investigations constitute a necessary prerequisite for subsequent steps. Within psychological science, establishing the psychometric properties of assessment tools is a prerequisite prior to their application.
In line with this reasoning, and drawing on analogous processes established for psychological instruments, a framework has been articulated in psychology to delineate the pathway through which a therapeutic protocol enters a new cultural context. This framework is referred to as Feasibility. Although the concept of feasibility is defined differently across scientific disciplines, in clinical psychology, feasibility studies are commonly conceptualized as small-scale, planned evaluations of interventions, addressing a central question: “Does the intervention work in a small sample?” Once this initial step is accomplished, subsequent research may progress toward studies conducted on a larger scale, such as full-scale Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).
From a scientific standpoint, what process must a therapeutic program undergo when introduced into a new cultural context? While some consider translation alone sufficient for the application of a therapeutic program in a different culture, specialists emphasize a systematic scientific process—either following the development of a new program or preceding its implementation—that enables its inclusion in broader scientific research. Such research, in turn, lays the groundwork for the program’s application within clinical settings.
The rationale for dedicating this special section of the journal to the present topic is to delineate this process. Accordingly, four articles are presented in continuation of this editorial note. The first article addresses the conceptual foundations of feasibility within psychology. The second article focuses on the need for instruments designed for the preliminary assessment of feasibility, tracing the development of such tools from initial construction through validation, and ultimately presenting instruments aligned with established scientific models of feasibility for use by researchers. Subsequently, the third and fourth articles examine the preliminary feasibility of two therapeutic programs. The third article presents the initial feasibility of a newly developed protocol, whereas the fourth investigates the preliminary feasibility of a translated protocol. The inclusion of two empirical articles reflects the distinction between developed and translated protocols. It is hoped that the contributions within this special section will help illuminate a clear scientific pathway for professionals in clinical psychology.
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