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. 2015 Jun;71(6):491-9.
doi: 10.1002/jclp.22165. Epub 2015 Mar 16.

The relation of baseline skills to psychotherapy outcome across diverse psychotherapies

Mary Beth Connolly Gibbons  1 , Sarah M Thompson  1 , Rachel A Mack  1 , Jacqueline K Lee  1 , Paul Crits-Christoph  1
Affiliations

The relation of baseline skills to psychotherapy outcome across diverse psychotherapies

Mary Beth Connolly Gibbons et al. J Clin Psychol. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: We explored whether patients with varied levels of baseline deficits in compensatory skills and self-understanding had different outcomes across cognitive and dynamic therapies.

Method: The assessment battery was administered at intake and termination (N = 97; 66% female, 81% Caucasian). We conducted regression analyses predicting symptom change from baseline levels of self-understanding and compensatory skills. We also evaluated the interaction between baseline skill levels and treatment condition in the prediction of psychotherapy outcome.

Results: There was a significant interaction between treatment group and baseline compensatory skills in the prediction of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) symptom change, F(1,76) = 4.59, p = .035. Baseline deficits in compensatory skills were significantly related to symptom change for patients who received cognitive treatment, ηρ = .40, p = .037, while baseline levels of self-understanding were not significantly predictive of treatment outcome in either condition. Baseline skill variables did not predict symptom change as measured by the HAMA.

Conclusions: The findings support a capitalization model of cognitive therapy, whereby patients with relative strengths in compensatory skills at baseline have better treatment outcomes.

Keywords: cognitive therapy; compensatory skills; dynamic therapy; psychotherapy process; self-understanding.

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