Table 1 Techniques identified for inclusion in the intervention, whether a definition was available from the coding manual, action taken, and the definitions adopted

Goal specified

Yes

Used the definition from the coding manual:

“A very specific definition of the behaviour, with at least one of the following specified: where, when, how, or with whom”

Contract

Yes

Used the definition from the coding manual:

“Agreement so that there is a written record witnessed by another”

Self-monitoring

Yes

Used the definition from the coding manual:

“Keeping a record of specified behaviour”

Rewards

Yes

Used the definition from the coding manual:

“Praise, encouragement, and/or material rewards—the reward must be explicitly linked to the achievement of specified goals”

Graded tasks

Yes

Used the definition from the coding manual:

“A sequence of tasks that start from easy and become increasingly difficult”

Increasing skills (problem solving, decision making, goal setting)

No

The technique was excluded because

▪ there was no evidence to suggest that therapists required intervention with respect to decision-making or problem-solving skills [17], and

▪ goal-setting skills were already targeted extensively through the techniques of graded tasks and rehearsal

Coping skills

No

Technique was excluded (see results for step 2)

Rehearsal of relevant skill

Yes

Used the definition from the coding manual:

“Repeat the behaviour or preparatory behaviours numerous times”

Social processes of encouragement, pressure, and support

Definitions for four similar techniques

Used the definitions for the four similar techniques (‘general encouragement’, ‘opportunities for social comparison’, ‘social support/change’, and ‘information about others’ approval’) to produce a single definition:

“Opportunities for mutual support, sharing, and comparison, including clarification of whether others like, approve of, or disapprove of what one is doing”

Modeling/ demonstration by others

Yes

Used the definition from the coding manual:

“Showing how to perform a behaviour correctly”

Feedback

Yes

Used the definition from the coding manual:

“Providing data about or commenting on a person’s action in relation to a set goal or in relation to the performance of others”