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Therapist-Relevant Constructs Predicting Treatment Dropout

Howard, Kristen Paige
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1497083979744123

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Dropout from psychotherapy is an important issue in treatment provision and research. Therapist-related factors that serve to reduce this risk are essential to elucidate given the consequences of premature dropout. The therapeutic alliance is a commonly studied component of psychotherapy (Martin, Garske, & Davis, 2000) and may reduce the risk of dropout from treatment (Cooper et al., 2016; Principe, Marci, Glick, & Ablon, 2006; Tryon & Kane, 1995; Wnuk et al., 2013). Although less well-studied, validation and invalidation are also theorized to be important constructs in therapy outcomes (Linehan, 1997; Lynch, Chapman, Rosenthal, Kuo, & Linehan, 2006). However, these variables have received limited attention in regard to dropout research. I examined the relation between these therapist-relevant constructs (i.e., therapeutic alliance, validation, and invalidation) and dropout from treatment. Participants included clients in psychotherapy (n = 52; 79% female; 83% Caucasian) and therapists (n = 22; 68% female; 86% Caucasian) in three graduate training clinics. Clients, therapists, and outside observers rated therapist validation, invalidation, and the therapeutic alliance (alliance was only rated by clients and therapists) across four early sessions of therapy (i.e., sessions 3-7). Scores for each construct were averaged across the four sessions and examined as predictors of client dropout from treatment. Client ratings of therapist validation, invalidation, and the alliance all independently predicted dropout. Clients who reported a strong alliance and more therapist validation were less likely to dropout, while higher ratings of invalidation predicted a greater risk of dropout. Therapist and observer ratings of these constructs were unrelated to dropout. With regard to these therapist-relevant constructs, only the client’s view significantly predicted treatment dropout. Assessing and attending to client perceptions of alliance and validation/invalidation by the therapist early in treatment, through brief self-reports, can alert therapists to clients at greater risk and, thus, possibly prevent further dropout.
Jennifer Cheavens, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Daniel Strunk, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Laura Wagner, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
87 p.
Clinical Psychology; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Therapy
dropout, validation, invalidation, alliance

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Howard, K. P. (2017). Therapist-Relevant Constructs Predicting Treatment Dropout [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1497083979744123

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Howard, Kristen. Therapist-Relevant Constructs Predicting Treatment Dropout. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1497083979744123.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Howard, Kristen. "Therapist-Relevant Constructs Predicting Treatment Dropout." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1497083979744123

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1497083979744123
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.