Process and outcome in psychotherapy and behavior therapy.

Three behavior therapists and 3 analytically oriented psychotherapists treated a total of 60 neurotic outpatients for 4 mo. Data were collected as part of a larger study by R. B. Sloane et al (1975). Measures of Rogers-Truax (C. B. Truax and K. M. Mitchell, 1971) factors, nonlexical speech characteristics, therapist informational specificity, and a content analysis of therapist activity were taken from recordings of the 5th interview. Therapists rated their feelings toward their patients, and patients completed the Relationship Questionnaire and rated therapists on an inventory by M. Lorr (see record 1965-10372-001). In psychotherapy, patients who were most liked by their therapists and those with greater total speech time showed greatest symptomatic improvement. Patients who used longer average speech durations improved most in both treatments. It is concluded that patient improvement was more a function of patient characteristics than of specific therapist interventions. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Matchmaking in psychotherapy: Patient-therapist dimensions and their impact on outcome.

Patient–therapist matching was investigated using recent theoretical and methodological developments to overcome some of the limitations that have hindered similar past efforts. Two hypotheses were tested: (a) Therapeutic outcome is affected by the interaction between patients' and therapists' self-concepts, and (b) increasing anticomplementarity between therapist self-concept and therapists' perceptions of patients' behavior is negatively associated with patient improvement. Data from the first 2 cohorts of the Vanderbilt II Psychotherapy Project (H. H. Strupp et al; see record 1989-10009-001) were analyzed. They included the therapies of 16 experienced therapists, who saw a total of 48 patients (38 women and 10 men) in time-limited psychotherapy. Patients' ages ranged from 24 to 65 years (M age?=?40). Outcome was measured from the perspective of the patient, therapist, and evaluating clinician. Each hypothesis was supported, but not across all 3 outcome perspectives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist effects in outpatient psychotherapy: A three-level growth curve approach.

Evidence suggests that a moderate amount of variance in patient outcomes is attributable to therapist differences. However, explained variance estimates vary widely, perhaps because some therapists achieve greater success with certain kinds of patients. This study assessed the amount of variance in across-session change in symptom intensity scores explained by therapist differences in a large naturalistic data set (1,198 patients and 60 therapists, who each treated 10-77 of the patients). Results indicated that approximately 8% of the total variance and approximately 17% of the variance in rates of patient improvement could be attributed to the therapists. Cross-validation and extreme group analyses validated the existence of these therapist effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Therapist-patient sex as sex abuse: Six scientific, professional, and practical dilemmas in addressing victimization and rehabilitation": Response to Williams's Comment.

Agrees with M. H. Williams's (see record 1991-13292-001) comment on K. S. Pope's (see record 1991-02078-001) article on therapist–patient sexual involvement (TPSI) that evaluations of TPSI research are not well served. Pope addresses Williams's 2 basic propositions: (1) Research on the outcome of TPSI does not, and possibly cannot, meet minimal standards for survey research and (2) psychology has been victimized by those who feel that there must be a data base before sanctions can be applied to therapists involved in TPSI and by those who have used lower standards for research relevant for each ethical guideline and have constrained criticism of research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dimensions of psychotherapists' activity: A replication and extension of earlier findings.

Attempted to replicate the 5 dimensions of therapists' activity (personal distance, activity, flexibility, therapist distance, and preference for goal-limited therapy) found by M. S. Wallach and H. H. Strupp (see record 1964-02091-001). Questionnaire responses (the Therapeutic Attitudes, Skills, and Techniques Scale) from 136 therapists were factor analyzed. Significant differences were found on 5 subscales (constructed to represent each of the 5 factors), due to characteristics of the therapist, including sex, having had personal psychotherapy, involvement in research, frequency of patient visits, and length of time spent working with a typical patient. Although there were some changes in endorsement of "preferred theoretical orientation" which reflected advances in the field in the intervening 16 yrs, findings indicate that the dimensions of therapist activity identified in the original study represent enduring issues a therapist of any persuasion must confront. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The ethics of language and the language of ethics.

Responds to the comments of M. P. Nichols (see record 1989-40699-001) on the work of the present authors (see record 1989-40685-001), asserting that therapists work toward understanding the correctness of the view explained by the client in a never-ending process that changes both therapist and client. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A consumer approach.

Commends the consumer-oriented approach to psychotherapy of R. T. Hare-Mustin et al (see record 1979-26958-001) and suggests additional ways of ensuring therapist accountability, including (1) requirement of therapists to reveal their success/failure rates to clients, (2) the protection of confidentiality in group therapy through a liquidated damage clause, and (3) the use of client advisory boards for examining client complaints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Global and specific ratings of teaching effectiveness and their relation to course objectives: Reply to Marsh (1994).

W E. Cashin and R. G. Downey (see record 1994-08141-001) studied global student rating items, plus some control variables, for summative evaluation using the Instructional Development and Effectiveness Assessment (IDEA) composite from 17,183 classes processed in 1989–1990 as the criterion variable. H. W. Marsh (see record 1995-08082-001), analyzing 29,543 classes processed in 1990–1991, raised some questions about the effectiveness of the IDEA composite as a criterion of effective teaching. Marsh generated four additional criterion variables from the IDEA data. However, examination of Marsh's data revealed only minor differences. When the original study was replicated with each of Marsh's four criterion variables, the results were essentially the same. Using Marsh's criterion variables supported the original conclusion that global items account for most of the variance in criterion measures of teaching effectiveness and may be used for summative evaluation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist-patient sex as sex abuse: Six scientific, professional, and practical dilemmas in addressing victimization and rehabilitation": Comment.

Comments that K. S. Pope's (see record 1991-02078-001) discussion of therapist–patient sexual abuse draws attention to major epistemological issues and cultural prejudices in investigating therapist–patient sexual involvement (TPSI). M. H. Williams asserts that the research on TPSI cannot meet minimal standards for survey research and may have insurmountable validity problems. Williams argues that therapists involved in TPSI should be sanctioned and that psychologists should feel free to question the validity of the research or data base without being perceived as blaming the victim or colluding with the perpetrators. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Splitting data from theory on Black patient-White therapist relationship.

Suggests that A. Jones and A. A. Seagull (see record 1978-21667-001) did not include existing empirical data which repudiates the contention that Black patients receive less attention from White therapists. To resolve questions concerning the White therapist–Black patient relationship, psychological science needs to move in the direction of studies of genuine therapeutic interactions (e.g., case studies, process accounts, archival searches). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Some comments on the relation between A-B status of behavior therapists and success treatment": James and Foreman reply.

Replies to H. J. Eysenck's commentary (see record 1975-11786-001) on the original article by L. E. James and M. E. Foreman (see record 197407703-001) regarding the relation between A-B status of behavior therapists and success of treatment. In his commentary, Eysenck argued that several weaknesses in the original study do not support the conclusion that the A-B therapist variable is associated with outcomes of behavior therapy. In this reply, James and Foreman defend their conclusions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Effects of Therapist and Patient Mood on the Therapeutic Functioning of High- and Low-Facilitative Therapists": Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by Alan S. Gurman (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1973[Feb], 40[1], 48-58). On page 49, paragraph 2, line 8 should read "those preceded by negative therapist moods." (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1973-21486-001.) Determined the effects of presession moods of 12 therapists and their patients on level of therapist empathy, warmth, and genuineness. Results of an intensively designed study indicate that high- and low-facilitative therapists were differentially affected by therapist moods. High-facilitative therapists functioned more facilitatively under dysphoric moods than under positive, while the opposite was true of low-facilitative. There were no differences in tape-rated therapist facilitativeness under different patient moods for either group, yet patients of low-facilitative therapists did perceive such a difference. It is concluded that the therapist feelings preceding the facilitative therapy hour were not the same for high- and low-facilitative therapists. The use of the intensive design in psychotherapy process research is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? An appreciative appraisal.

Seeks to find the appreciative, positive inquiry aspects of and similarities in the papers by B. D. Slife (see record 1995-13451-001), R. N. Williams (see record 1995-12851-001), M. S. Richardson (see record 1995-14311-001), and G. S. Howard (see record 1995-13446-001) without critical academic judgment, applauding the removal, although insufficient, of the linear time metaphor, suggesting the allowance of agency as a characteristic of people-in-relations, and lamenting the commentary gap on relational unit of client and therapist. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Helpful impacts in group counseling: Development of a multidimensional rating system.

The underlying structure of group therapy participants' perceptions of helpful therapeutic impacts were explored through principal-components analysis. Critical incidents obtained from 210 interpersonal growth group and 74 group counseling participants were rated on a measure that incorporated items from the Therapeutic Factors (S. Bloch, J. Reibstein, E. Crouch, P. Holroyd, & J. Themen; see record 1980-26125-001), and Categories of Good Moments (A. R. Mahrer & W. P. Nadler; see record 1986-17846-001) rating systems and R. Elliott's (see record 1985-31654-001) taxonomy of helpful impacts. Principal-components analysis revealed four underlying factors that accounted for 59.2% of the variance. These factors were labeled Emotional Awareness-Insight, Relationship-Climate, Other Versus Self Focus, and Problem Solving-Behavior Change. The identified helpful therapeutic impact dimensions were related to perceptions of group leader behavior and to ratings of group climate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Complementarity and symmetry in family therapy communication.

We examined relational control communication patterns in systemic family therapy sessions. Therapist interactions with each family member (N?=?29 families) were examined with the Family Relational Communication Control Coding System. Results showed significantly more complementarity, which reflects mutuality in the definition of a relationship, than symmetry, which characterizes relational control competition. Transitional probabilities showed that family members were likely to respond to therapists in a complementary manner (following therapist one-up, ↑, messages with one-down, ↓, messages and vice versa); therapists were likely to respond to client ↑ and ↓ messages in either a competitive symmetrical or complementary manner. Neither complementarity nor symmetry was predictive of family members' perceptions of the therapeutic alliance as measured by Couple and Family Therapy Alliance Scales (W. M. Pinsof and D. R. Catherall; see record 1987-23860-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to Telch.

In response to M. J. Telch's (see record 1981-26281-001) criticism of the present author's (see record 1979-29008-001) paper, it is suggested that although the efficacy of certain techniques can be improved, failure to demonstrate that techniques are related to important differences in outcome may simply reflect inadequate research designs. The weight of evidence is that the effectiveness of techniques depends on their appropriateness to personal characteristics of patient and therapist, whose interactions are the major determinants of outcome. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Systematic effects of participant role on evaluation of the psychotherapy session.

This study identified systematic differences between therapists (n?=?114) and patients (n?=?119) in the process components that predict evaluation of psychotherapy sessions. The Comprehensive Scale of Psychotherapy Session Constructs was developed to measure 9 process variables and their relationships to session evaluation from the perspectives of therapist and patient. Regression equations predicting session evaluation from the process components for the 2 groups were significantly different. Therapist session evaluation was best predicted by therapist expertness, and patient session evaluation was best predicted by the therapist real relationship. The therapist real relationship negatively predicted therapist session evaluation when all process variables were considered simultaneously. Patient progress and patient involvement significantly and positively predicted both therapist and patient evaluation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integrating psychoanalytic and behavior therapy.

Comments on S. B. Messer and M. Winokur's (see record 1980-30751-001) critique of behavior therapy, which suggests that behavior therapists are just as concerned with feelings as are analytic therapists. It is suggested that despite Messer and Winokur's effort to be evenhanded in their characterizations, what emerges is a picture of the behavior therapist as personally limited and as creating a therapy that embodies these personal limitations. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What is implied?

Argues that G. Stricker (see record 1977-29882-001), in his article on research implications for psychotherapy with women, cannot dismiss the analog data of others while using different analog studies to support his own statements. Stricker's conclusions concerning the frequency of sex between therapist and client and the bias of male vs female therapists are based only on his own speculations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)