This commentary briefly surveys some of the practical and methodological difficulties related to residential treatment outcome research, both in terms of earlier criticisms of outcome research and of more recent commentaries noting the increased importance of funding issues and fiscal accountability. The paper concludes with a descriptive and comparative survey listing of selected possible outcome assessment instruments, including: (1) clinical interview schedules, (2) objective rating scales (including global functioning, behavioral, and specialized focus scales), (3) objective personality inventories, and (4) projective tests. [Article copies available from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: [email protected]]