Naturalistic observation in assessment of behavioral marital therapy

Behavioural Marital Therapy: Current Status, Limitations, and Directions for Further Research

Behavioural marital therapy (BMT) is a promising approach to the pervasive concern of lack of marital satisfaction. BMT produces gains in marital satisfaction which are statistically significantly superior to no treatment controls. However when more stringent criteria for success are applied, which are of greater clinical relevance, success rates are moderate. It is argued the limitations of BMT efficacy may be due to three faults in the current conceptualization and practice of BMT. Firstly, while some recognition of the role of cognitions has been made, the salient cognitions of distressed couples have not been clearly described in specific social contexts. Secondly, the cognitive interventions used do not relate clearly to identified maladaptive cognitions. Finally, the generalization of therapeutic effects has been assessed insufficiently, and generalization has not been programmed into therapeutic procedures. Specific suggestions are offered which may help to help overcome these problems.

Observation of couple conflicts: clinical assessment applications, stubborn truths, and shaky foundations

The purpose of this review is to provide a balanced examination of the published research involving the observation of couples, with special attention toward the use of observation for clinical assessment. All published articles that (a) used an observational coding system and (b) relate to the validity of the coding system are summarized in a table. The psychometric properties of observational systems and the use of observation in clinical practice are discussed. Although advances have been made in understanding couple conflict through the use of observation, the review concludes with an appeal to the field to develop constructs in a psychometrically and theoretically sound manner.

Observation of couple conflicts: clinical assessment applications, stubborn truths, and shaky foundations

The purpose of this review is to provide a balanced examination of the published research involving the observation of couples, with special attention toward the use of observation for clinical assessment. All published articles that (a) used an observational coding system and (b) relate to the validity of the coding system are summarized in a table. The psychometric properties of observational systems and the use of observation in clinical practice are discussed. Although advances have been made in understanding couple conflict through the use of observation, the review concludes with an appeal to the field to develop constructs in a psychometrically and theoretically sound manner.