Therapeutic methods are systematically developed and empirically evaluated interventions designed to prevent, ameliorate, or cure disease or dysfunction, typically grounded in specific theoretical models of pathology and mechanism of action. As a methodological category, they encompass pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, behavioral, physical, surgical, and device-based approaches, each defined by standardized protocols, dosing or exposure parameters, and outcome measures. In research, therapeutic methods are operationalized through treatment manuals, intervention algorithms, and fidelity criteria, and are evaluated via controlled experimental designs, including randomized controlled trials, to quantify efficacy, safety, mechanism-specific effects, and moderators and mediators of treatment response.
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