Is therapist alliance or whole group cohesion more influential in group psychotherapy outcomes?

Authors

Trevor P. Crowe, University of WollongongFollow
B. F. S. Grenyer, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

24338

Publication Details

Crowe, TP & Grenyer, BFS, Is therapist alliance or whole group cohesion more influential in group psychotherapy outcomes?, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy: an international journal of theory and practice, 15(4), 2008, p 239-246.

Abstract

This study examined the differential ability of early in treatment measures of therapeutic alliance (Working Alliance Inventory), group cohesion (California Psychotherapy Alliance Scale for Group), and group climate (Group Climate Questionnaire) to predict outcome in sixteen-session dynamic group psychotherapy for adults with major depression. Six successful therapy groups with 30 patients receiving psychodynamic group therapy were studied. Patient perceptions of the therapist alliance was not related to outcome, however perceptions of levels of conflict and group members ability to work actively and purposefully in treatment did predict outcome. Future research should further investigate how patients perceptions of the whole group influence their clinical improvement.