Abstract: It is a key link in the study of psychotherapy outcomes that how to analyze the outcomes measure data. In the course of the study, the researchers found that the statistical significance methods used to were problematic. Therefore the concept of clinical significance was introduced in evaluating treatment efficacy. Western scholars have put forth the JT, GLN, EN and HA to verify the clinical significant change of clients. These methods were trying to afford the accurate information, however some issues still exist in the study of psychotherapy outcomes, such as the clarity of the concept, the integrity of the standards and data collection. Future research should focus on innovating or amending methods, or concern about the data interpretation is the currently two arguments. Our country should fetch in the clinical significance methods in consideration of the establishment of evaluating indicators and measurement tools, in order to evaluate the psychotherapy outcomes correctly and to enhance the efficacy of psychotherapy finally.

Key words: psychotherapy, outcome assessment, clinical significance, statistical method