Facilitating transformative endings: Therapists' experience of ending therapy with people with intellectual disabilities-An interpretative phenomenological analysis

BACKGROUND

Endings in therapy are discussed widely in mainstream literature, however, there is only a small amount of research that considers endings in therapy for people with intellectual disabilities.

METHODS

Eight therapists were interviewed about their experience of ending therapy with people with intellectual disabilities. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

RESULTS

Four superordinate themes associated with endings that go well were identified: 'recognising', 'readying', 'reframing' and reflecting', with a fifth theme reflecting endings that were less successful. Participants worked hard to offer transformative experiences of endings and an overarching 'super-superordinate' theme of 'facilitating transformative endings' encompassed the findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Endings are a multi-faceted component of psychological therapy with people with intellectual disabilities and are significant for both client and therapist. We discuss implications for therapy adaptations and future research.

Subjective emotion trajectories in couple therapy and associations with improvement in relationship satisfaction

Existing couple therapies are generally effective for reducing romantic relationship distress and divorce, but therapy outcomes remain poor for many. Outcomes can be improved through greater understanding of session-by-session therapeutic processes, particularly in real-world treatment settings. Modern couple therapy models commonly emphasize the importance of emotional experiences as key change processes, yet few empirical studies have tested the merits of this focus. The present study addresses this limitation by examining trajectories of subjective emotions and their association with change in a key relationship outcome, relationship satisfaction, among military veterans and their partners at a VA Medical Center. Partners rated their relationship satisfaction prior to couple therapy sessions and subjective emotions immediately after sessions. Consistent with hypotheses, both hard (e.g., anger) and soft (e.g., sadness) negative emotions decreased significantly over the course of therapy. Those couples with greater decreases in hard negative, but not soft negative, emotions showed significantly more improvement in relationship satisfaction. Positive emotions did not significantly change across couples in general, but those couples whose positive emotions did increase also showed more improvement in relationship satisfaction. These results suggest change in subjective emotions may be one process underlying improvement in couple therapy and lend empirical support to the emphasis on emotion-based change processes underlying acceptance-based and emotion-focused couple therapies.

Using Client Narratives to Identify Predictors of Outcome in Written Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy

Written exposure therapy (WET) is a brief, five-session treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that aims to improve access to care. WET has been demonstrated to be an efficacious PTSD treatment with lower rates of dropout and noninferior PTSD symptom outcome compared to cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a 12-session, gold-standard treatment. To identify predictors of treatment outcome in both WET and CPT, the current study examined the content of participants' written narratives. Participants were 123 adults with PTSD who were randomly assigned to receive WET (n = 61) or CPT (n = 62). The Change and Growth Experiences Scale (CHANGE) coding system was used to code all available narratives in both treatment conditions for variables hypothesized to be relevant to therapeutic change. Linear regression analyses revealed that in WET, higher average levels of accommodated (healthy, balanced) beliefs and an increase in accommodated beliefs from the first to the final impact statement predicted better PTSD symptom outcome at 12 weeks postrandomization. In CPT, higher average levels of overgeneralized and accommodated beliefs and lower levels of avoidance expressed in the narratives predicted better PTSD outcome. There were no significant predictors of outcome in analyses of change from the first to final impact statement in CPT. These findings add to research identifying predictors of change in WET and CPT by highlighting the importance of low avoidance in CPT and of trauma-related cognitions in both CPT and WET, even though WET is a brief written intervention that does not explicitly target cognitive change.

Enhancing working alliance through positive emotional experience: A cross-lag analysis

Although psychotherapy research has traditionally focused on decrease in distress, emotion research suggests the important role of positive emotional experience in healing and growing. Objective: The present study investigates the relationship between positive emotional experiences and working alliance. Method: We chose to investigate this relationship in accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP), taking advantage of the modality's focus on both negative and positive emotional experiences. Fifty-eight clients receiving 16-sessions individual AEDP reported on their post-session levels of working alliance and positive emotions (enlivenment affect, positive relational affect, and peacefulness). The alliance-emotion relationship for each emotional categories was tested with separate disaggregated cross-lagged panel models. Results: Across the three categories, higher positive emotions at the end of the previous session were associated with higher working alliance at the end of the next session. On the other hand, working alliance did not contribute to any of the positive emotions in the next time point. Furthermore, the three emotion categories showed different patterns of development. Conclusion: The findings suggest that fostering positive emotions may be a promising venue to enhance working alliance. Furthermore, differentiating specific positive emotions is likely important both for research and practice.

Change in reflective functioning in interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

Patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have been found to have restricted capacity for mentalization, and it is possible that this constitutes a vulnerability factor for developing depression. Due to its focus on linking depressive symptomatology to emotions and interpersonal relations, it was hypothesized that Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) would improve mentalization more than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

METHODS

In a randomized controlled trial of 90 patients undergoing IPT and CBT for MDD, Reflective Functioning (RF) was rated from Adult Attachment and from Depression-Specific Reflective Functioning (DSRF) Interviews before and after therapy. Treatment outcome was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II.

RESULTS

The interaction between time and treatment approach was statistically significant, with RF improving significantly more in IPT than in CBT. Change in RF was not correlated with change in depression. The difference in DSRF ratings before and after therapy was not statistically significant for any of the treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

IPT may improve mentalization more than CBT. However, although RF increased significantly in IPT, the mean level was still low after therapy. A limitation of the study is the large amount of post-treatment missing data. More research is needed to understand the potential role of mentalization in symptom reduction.

Beyond treatment modalities: Clinical decisions and relational dynamics that facilitate change in group treatments

This commentary on six articles comprising this Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session issue on the therapeutic process in group psychotherapy brings together relevant clinical challenges and opportunities concerning the unique processes of change in group treatments. As illustrated by these six inspiring group therapy cases, therapy groups may vary widely in content and context. To balance the rich clinical illustrations of successful group treatments and the different theoretical formulations offered in these case studies, we highlight the processes that these treatments appear to have in common. Specifically, we describe the clinical considerations about the group format and the group members. We also reflect on the relational dynamics as they play out within the complex interplay between group leaders and group members; the facilitation of the corrective emotional experience as a change mechanism in group therapy, as well as the relational challenges and opportunities inherent in group treatments more generally. It is hoped that in this issue, clinicians will not only be inspired by the clinical description of successful change processes in group treatments but will also be reminded of the therapeutic nuances and opportunities of this multilayered treatment format.

Practicing Online During COVID-19: Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Therapists' Experiences

During the Covid-19 pandemic, psychotherapists quickly transitioned to provide online therapy, while facing many challenges. This study aimed to explore psychodynamic and psychoanalytically oriented therapists' (N = 1450) experiences with online therapy during the first weeks of the pandemic and two months later. Results showed that therapists had little pre-pandemic experience with providing online therapy and even less training in it, and that younger therapists reported more challenges in the transition to online therapy. During the first weeks of the pandemic, most therapists thought that online therapy was less effective than in-person therapy, and they reported a wide range of relational and technical challenges, feeling more tired, less confident and competent, and less connected and authentic in online sessions, compared to previous in-person sessions. At follow-up, therapists viewed online therapy as more comparable to in-person therapy; the majority felt connected and authentic as they had during the initial weeks of the pandemic, or more so, but were still as tired as before. The most challenging aspect of online therapy was distraction in sessions, which increased over time. This study demonstrates the professional adaptability of therapists and highlights the need for more training and professional support for clinicians providing remote psychotherapy.

Working together: An investigation of the impact of working alliance and cohesion on group psychotherapy attendance

OBJECTIVES

Group psychotherapy holds considerable potential for cost-effective treatment delivery. However, issues with client attendance can compromise the efficacy of such treatments. To date, client specific factors are amongst the most researched predictors of attendance in psychotherapy, with much less of a focus given to process factors, particularly in the group therapy context. This study aimed to determine which process factors influenced attendance in the context of a group therapy programme for adults with anxiety. It was hypothesized that (1) the working alliance and group cohesion would be moderately correlated, (2) both the working alliance and group cohesion would explain unique variance in session attendance, and (3) the working alliance would act as a moderator for attendance, when group cohesion was low.

DESIGN

The study utilized a within participants design.

METHODS

Participants were 91 adults (aged 18-74 years) who took part in a 9-week, transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural group therapy programme for the treatment of anxiety disorders.

RESULTS

Working alliance and group cohesion were significantly, but only moderately correlated (rs ranging .41 to .55). Together, working alliance and group cohesion significantly predicted total session attendance (17.70% variance explained). Working alliance did not moderate the relationship between group cohesion and session attendance.

CONCLUSIONS

The importance of individual and group processes in influencing group therapy engagement is highlighted, including the role of fostering bonds within the group and between clients and therapists.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

A complex array of process factors has been argued to influence treatment outcomes in group therapy The quality of the relationship between group therapy clients, as well as the relationship between a client and the therapist, predict session attendance. The quality of the relationship between the client and the therapist may be the most important predictor of session attendance. Therapists should foster positive relationships between each client and the therapist in group therapy, as well as assisting each client to foster positive relationships with other group members.

Caregiver Behaviors and Child Distress in Trauma Narration and Processing Sessions of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an effective treatment for children impacted by trauma, and non-offending caregivers play an important role in this treatment. This study aims to identify correlates of four caregiver variables that have been identified as predictors of child outcomes in TF-CBT: support, cognitive-emotional processing, avoidance, and blame/criticism. Audio recorded sessions were coded from a community effectiveness trial of TF-CBT that included 71 child-caregiver dyads participating in the trauma narration and processing phase of treatment. Regression analyses were conducted to examine caregiver trauma history and child baseline symptoms (internalizing, externalizing, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms) as predictors of caregiver behavior during the trauma processing sessions. Caregivers who reported exposure to more trauma types exhibited more in-session avoidance and also processing during the trauma processing phase of treatment. Child symptoms at baseline did not predict caregiver in-session behaviors. Bivariate correlations were used to investigate concurrent associations between mean levels of in-session caregiver behaviors and in-session child distress (negative emotion, hopelessness, negative behaviors). More caregiver blame/criticism was associated with more in-session child distress on all three measures. Caregiver avoidance was associated with more child negative emotion and hopelessness. Findings may help identify therapeutic targets when working with caregivers to promote change and enhance TF-CBT outcomes.

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia predicts perceived therapy process of a group-based acceptance and commitment therapy intervention

Engagement in psychotherapy is partially contingent on present-moment focus, mindfulness, and emotion regulation skills. These skills can be linked to parasympathetic functioning with theoretical explanations provided by polyvagal and neurovisceral integration theories. The specific aims of this project were to evaluate relationships between a measure of parasympathetic functioning (respiratory sinus arrythmia [RSA]) and measures of client reports of engagement in an experiential and emotionally evocative group-based intervention. Twenty-one community residents received group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for work stress. RSA was measured 1 week before the intervention. Client ratings of relationship support, task focus, and hindering experiences were assessed after each session. Results indicated that clients perceived the ACT intervention to be supportive, task-focused, and without significant therapy-hindering experiences. Higher levels of RSA were significantly associated with higher levels of relationship support. These results support predictions derived from the polyvagal and neurovisceral integration theories.

'Someone on my level': A Meta-Ethnographic Review of Therapeutic Relationships in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis

OBJECTIVES

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) demonstrates variable and at times mild to moderate effect sizes; thus, its therapeutic processes are important to explore. Establishing a secure therapeutic relationship is one such key process where barriers may exist, including those related to psychotic symptoms and associated stigma. This review synthesizes the available qualitative research pertaining to the experience of the therapeutic relationship from the perspective of those experiencing psychosis.

METHODS

A systematic review was undertaken using PRISMA guidelines. Search terms included variants of 'psychosis', 'therapy' and 'qualitative'. PsycInfo, CINAHL, EmBase, MedLine and Web of Science were searched, and reference lists were hand-scanned. Yardley's quality appraisal tool was utilized and Noblit and Hare's seven-stage process for conducting a meta-ethnographic review. A line-of-argument synthesis is presented.

RESULTS

Fourteen papers were identified using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twelve papers were deemed to have satisfactory quality. The line-of-argument synthesis used attachment theory to propose four semi-distinct stages to establishing a therapeutic relationship: beginning; safety, hope and trust; the practicalities of therapy; and branching out. Findings suggest that the therapist's persona and use of CBTp techniques such as collaboration and shared agency over the process were important in establishing for the patient a sense of self as normal, equal and worthwhile.

CONCLUSIONS

Attachment security may be an important strand of CBTp and warrants further research and clinical investigation as a process and an outcome. Future research can benefit from increased transparency regarding researcher positionality as a potential source of bias.

Incorporating physiology into the study of psychotherapy process

Increasing evidence indicates that psychological factors important to therapy effectiveness are associated with physiological activity. Knowledge of the physiological correlates of therapy process variables has the potential to provide unique insights into how and why therapy works, but little is currently known about the physiological underpinnings of specific therapy processes that facilitate client growth and change. The goal of this article is to introduce therapy process researchers to the use of physiological methods for studying therapy process variables. We do this by (a) presenting a conceptual framework for the study of therapy process variables, (b) providing an introductory overview of physiological systems with particular promise for the study of therapy process variables, (c) introducing the primary methods and methodological decisions involved in physiological research, and (d) demonstrating these principles and methods in a case of therapeutic presence during couple therapy. We close with a discussion of the promise and challenges in the study of physiological correlates of therapy process variables and consideration of future challenges and open questions in this line of research. Online supplemental materials include additional resources for therapy process researchers interested in getting started with physiological research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The role of physical activity promotion in typical exercise therapy concepts: a latent class analysis based on a national survey in German rehabilitation settings

Purpose: Contemporary multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs include the promotion of physical activity as a central goal. Exercise therapy is an essential element in rehabilitation programs working towards this goal. However, little is known about the role of physical activity promotion in exercise therapy practice in rehabilitation settings. The aim is to identify typical exercise therapy concepts in rehabilitation programs regarding the role of physical activity promotion. Further, we want to assess the representation of physical activity promotion among exercise therapy departments across Germany and in relation to different diagnostic categories.Methods: Heads of 713 exercise therapy departments participated in a nationwide questionnaire-based survey collecting information on therapy goals, contents, and methods. Participating facilities treated health conditions in the areas of cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, oncology, psychosomatics and addiction. We applied factor analyses to identify behavior-oriented goals, contents and methods of exercise therapy concepts and used latent class analyses to categorize typical exercise therapy concepts.Results: Six typical exercise therapy concepts were identified. Two of the classes (together 45% of the departments) emphasized physical activity promotion and used related methods. Other concepts focused primarily on physical functioning and exercise or focused on psychosocial goals and positive experiences with physical activity. Typical exercise therapy concepts are only partially determined by the type of health condition.Conclusions: The dissemination of content and methods for a substantial physical activity promotion in exercise therapy, has so far partly taken place in Germany. The results imply that the different status quo in rehabilitation facilities have to be considered to foster the knowledge exchange between science and practice.Implications for rehabilitationThe results on typical exercise therapy concepts give a structured overview of different priorities with regard to aims, content, and methods of exercise therapy in the light of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.The study reveals that the dissemination of theoretically sound, evidence-based concepts for physical activity promotion has reached a half of the institutions in German rehabilitation settings. This national example generally suggests that there is a need for an increased exchange of knowledge between science and practice related to exercise therapy in rehabilitation settings.The results enable practitioners to reflect on their exercise therapy concepts with respect to contemporary exercise therapy concepts that integrate physical activity promotion appropriately.Stakeholders and rehabilitation professionals can use the results to design strategies for quality development, taking into account the different status quo of therapy concepts in the "real world" of rehabilitation practice.The results of the survey provide the basis for a scientifically-based comparison of exercise therapy across countries and health care systems.

Ruptures in psychotherapy: Experiences of therapist trainees

Method: We used consensual qualitative research (CQR) to investigate the experiences of therapist trainees who had a rupture with a client. Results: Of 21 trainees who were tracked weekly, 14 experienced a rupture and were interviewed 1 week after the rupture and again 2 weeks later about antecedents, repair attempts, and consequences. Trainees typically reported experiencing tension at the beginning of the rupture session and difficult emotions during the rupture (e.g., anger, depleted self-efficacy). Conclusion: Trainees typically tried to repair the rupture by using immediacy or facilitating exploration about the conflict. Trainees typically reported both negative (e.g., strained therapeutic relationship) and positive consequences (e.g., therapeutic work became more productive). Trainees seemed to be less aware of withdrawal than confrontational ruptures. Implications are that trainees could benefit from learning more about ruptures including how to regulate negative emotions toward clients and acquiring more rupture-repair tools, as well as realizing that ruptures can have some positive as well as negative aspects.

Client Perceptions of Helpfulness in Therapy: a Novel Video-Rating Methodology for Examining Process Variables at Brief Intervals During a Single Session

BACKGROUND

The value of clients' reports of their experiences in therapy is widely recognized, yet quantitative methodology has rarely been used to measure clients' self-reported perceptions of what is helpful over a single session.

AIMS

A video-rating method using was developed to gather data at brief intervals using process measures of client perceived experience and standardized measures of working alliance (Session Rating Scale; SRS). Data were collected over the course of a single video-recorded session of cognitive therapy (Method of Levels Therapy; Carey, 2006; Mansell et al., 2012). We examined the acceptability and feasibility of the methodology and tested the concurrent validity of the measure by utilizing theory-led constructs.

METHOD

Eighteen therapy sessions were video-recorded and clients each rated a 20-minute session of therapy at two-minute intervals using repeated measures. A multi-level analysis was used to test for correlations between perceived levels of helpfulness and client process variables.

RESULTS

The design proved to be feasible. Concurrent validity was borne out through high correlations between constructs. A multi-level regression examined the independent contributions of client process variables to client perceived helpfulness. Client perceived control (b = 0.39, 95% CI .05 to 0.73), the ability to talk freely (b = 0.30, SE = 0.11, 95% CI .09 to 0.51) and therapist approach (b = 0.31, SE = 0.14, 95% CI .04 to 0.57) predicted client-rated helpfulness.

CONCLUSIONS

We identify a feasible and acceptable method for studying continuous measures of helpfulness and their psychological correlates during a single therapy session.

The Role of the Therapist in Therapeutic Change: How Knowledge From Mental Health Can Inform Pediatric Rehabilitation

The therapist is a neglected and poorly understood variable in pediatric rehabilitation. Much more attention has been paid to the role of intervention on client change than the role of therapist-related variables. This article synthesizes what is known in the adult and child mental health literature about the role of the therapist, and integrates this with work in pediatric rehabilitation. The article reviews the mental health literature on the therapist as a random variable associated with client outcomes (role of the therapist alone) and the role of three other therapist-related constructs: the therapist-client relationship (therapist and client), treatment implementation (therapist and intervention), and therapy process (therapist, client, and intervention considered holistically). Implications for clinical practice in pediatric rehabilitation include recognition of change as a multi-determined phenomenon involving common therapist-related factors, the therapist's role in creating facilitative conditions for change (through supportive relationships, positive expectancies, and mastery and learning experiences), and the importance of training in collaborative partnership skills. A contextual approach to therapeutic change is advocated, in which psychosocial factors and mechanisms are acknowledged, the therapist is seen as crucial, and the intervention process is seen as the context or vehicle through which changes occur.

Using Questions in Cognitive Therapy with People with Intellectual Disabilities

BACKGROUND

There is increasing interest in the provision of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to people with intellectual disabilities. A small number of studies have begun to address therapy process issues.

AIMS

The aim of this paper is to contribute to process research through the development of a taxonomy of question types for use in analysing therapy interactions in CBT for people with intellectual disabilities.

METHOD

A taxonomy of CBT question types was adapted and applied to the transcriptions of session 4 and 9 of 15 CBT therapy dyads.

RESULTS

The taxonomy was reliably applied to the data. Therapists used significantly more questions in session 4 than in session 9, therapists used fewer questions in the final quarter of all sessions, and therapists used more questions with people with higher IQ scores in session 4 but not in session 9.

CONCLUSIONS

The taxonomy of questions is reliable and may be used in future studies of CBT therapy process with people with intellectual disabilities.

The Culturally-Enhanced Videofeedback Engagement (CEVE) Framework: Qualitative findings in families of children with disruptive behavior problems

While cultural competence has been promoted as a way to reduce mental health disparities among ethnic minority populations, there remains a gap between theory and practice. This study examined the use of the Culturally Enhanced Videofeedback Engagement (CEVE) intervention as a clinical tool to facilitate culturally anchored shared understanding to foster treatment engagement among ethnic minority families with children with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) participating in a family clinic. In-depth qualitative analysis of individual interviews compared parents' experiences of the therapy process among 9 intervention families and 10 families participating in treatment as usual. Thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with parents revealed that for families in the intervention group, clinician cultural and clinical competence and the therapeutic relationship were important characteristics of the intervention condition that enhanced parents' experience of treatment.

Therapeutic alliance in antidepressant treatment: cause or effect of symptomatic levels?

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that in psychotherapy alliance is a predictor of symptomatic change, even while accounting for the temporal precedence between alliance and symptoms. However, the extent to which alliance predicts outcomes in psychopharmacology is yet to be fully investigated considering the fact that alliance can be the result, rather than the cause, of symptomatic change. The current prospective study examined whether the alliance predicts outcomes in psychopharmacology, while controlling for previous symptomatic change throughout the course of treatment.

METHODS

Data from a psychopharmacological randomized controlled trial for the treatment of adult major depression (n = 42), including the patients' rating of the alliance with the physicians, were analyzed. Multilevel models controlling for autoregressive lag of the dependent variable were used in all analyses to examine the effect of alliance on outcome.

RESULTS

The effect of alliance on outcome, while controlling for prior symptomatic levels, was significant and restricted to the middle phase of treatment (week 4, p = 0.005), when most of the reductions in symptoms were observed. Exploratory analyses of the differences between placebo and medication conditions suggest that the differences between the patients in their average alliance levels predicted a greater reduction in symptoms in the placebo compared to the medication conditions (p = 0.008). The main limitation is the small cohort size.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest an effect of alliance on outcome in psychopharmacology, which is not merely the result of previous symptomatic levels. This effect may be more robust in conditions that do not include active treatment (placebo), possibly serving as a compensatory effect.

Child and parent engagement in the mental health intervention process: a motivational framework

BACKGROUND

This article proposes a conceptual model of child and parent engagement in the mental health intervention process.

METHOD

A scoping review was performed of articles on predictors of engagement in mental health interventions, the effectiveness of engagement interventions, and interpersonal aspects of care. A comprehensive search of PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES was performed for literature published in English from 2000 to 2012.

RESULTS

Based on the review, a motivational framework is proposed in which engagement is defined as a state comprised of a hopeful stance, conviction, and confidence, brought about when therapists optimize engagement processes of receptiveness, willingness, and self-efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Implications concern the need to help clients understand what to expect from the therapy process, and to educate therapists about engagement strategies.

One-year follow-up of family versus child CBT for anxiety disorders: Exploring the roles of child age and parental intrusiveness

OBJECTIVE

To compare the relative long-term benefit of family-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (FCBT) and child-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CCBT) for child anxiety disorders at a 1-year follow-up.

METHOD

Thirty-five children (6-13 years old) randomly assigned to 12-16 sessions of family-focused CBT (FCBT) or child-focused CBT (CCBT) participated in a 1-year follow-up assessment. Independent evaluators, parents, and children rated anxiety and parental intrusiveness. All were blind to treatment condition and study hypotheses.

RESULTS

Children assigned to FCBT had lower anxiety scores than children assigned to CCBT on follow-up diagnostician- and parent-report scores, but not child-report scores. Exploratory analyses suggested the advantage of FCBT over CCBT may have been evident more for early adolescents than for younger children and that reductions in parental intrusiveness may have mediated the treatment effect.

CONCLUSION

FCBT may yield a stronger treatment effect than CCBT that lasts for at least 1 year, although the lack of consistency across informants necessitates a circumspect view of the findings. The potential moderating and mediating effects considered in this study offer interesting avenues for further study.

Mechanisms of change in motivational interviewing: a review and preliminary evaluation of the evidence

AIMS

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an efficacious treatment for substance use disorders. However, little is known about how MI exerts its therapeutic effects. This review is a first attempt to summarize and evaluate the evidence for purported within-session mechanisms of change. The primary question of interest was: which MI constructs and variables appear to be the most promising candidates for mechanisms of change?

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted to identify studies delivering MI in an individual format for the treatment of substance use disorders. Our search identified a total of 152 studies for review; 19 studies met inclusion criteria by providing data on at least one link in the causal chain model under examination. Effect size estimates were calculated for every possible step in the causal model where sufficient data were provided by study authors.

RESULTS

Four constructs of therapist behavior were evaluated: MI-Spirit, MI-Consistent behaviors, MI-Inconsistent behaviors and therapist use of specific techniques. Five constructs of client behavior were evaluated: change talk/intention, readiness to change, involvement/engagement, resistance and the client's experience of discrepancy. The absence of experimental and full mediation studies of mechanisms of change was notable. Effect sizes were generally mixed.

CONCLUSIONS

The most consistent evidence was found for three constructs: client change talk/intention (related to better outcomes); client experience of discrepancy (related to better outcomes); and therapist MI-Inconsistent behavior (related to worse outcomes). Regarding therapist use of specific techniques, use of a decisional balance exercise showed the strongest association to better outcomes.