| Abstract: | Exp I (a) established outcome criteria using evaluation ratings from 24 patient-therapist dyads; (b) produced 11 quantifiable personality predictors through factor analysis of 18 therapists' and 65 patients' scores on a test battery (including the MMPI and the Omnibus Personality Inventory); (c) identified 3 typological categories of both patients and therapists homogeneous with respect to these variables and 2 groups of therapists each homogeneous with respect to therapeutic approach; and (d) derived 5 regression equations predicting outcome for each patient and therapist group. Exp II, with 24 therapists and 56 patients who were university students or their spouses, utilized these findings to form 2 experimental dyad groups for which (a) optimal or (b) minimal therapist outcome ratings were predicted, and 2 control groups each for both optimal and deterioration matches that controlled for patient type and therapist type, respectively. Results indicate significant differences between mean outcome in the comparison of the deterioration-matched group both with its control and the optimally matched group. Findings demonstrate the usefulness of carefully planned matching techniques. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
