Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T11:24:33.210Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

EPA-1563 - Common Factors, Specific Techniques and the Outcome of psychotherapy in Psychiatric Outpatients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

M. Pfammatter
Affiliation:
Department of Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bern, Switzerland
W. Tschacher
Affiliation:
Department of Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bern, Switzerland
K. Endtner
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Services, General Hospital Langenthal, Langenthal, Switzerland
M. Brintzinger
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Services, General Hospital Langenthal, Langenthal, Switzerland
K. Bachmann
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Services, General Hospital Langenthal, Langenthal, Switzerland

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Background

There is a clear consensus that psychotherapy works. Simultaneously, there is considerable disagreement as to what makes psychotherapy work: specific techniques or common factors. However, this dichotomy of specific techniques and common factors is not justified. Conceptual considerations and empirical data rather suggest an integrative view.

Aim

The present study empirically analyses the relationships between specific techniques, common factors and the outcome of psychotherapy.

Methods

After each psychotherapy session the patients of a psychiatric outpatient clinic completed a questionnaire, which evaluated the implementation of common factors. Likewise, the therapists rated the techniques they had applied during the session on a technique questionnaire at the end of each session. In addition, measurements of patient characteristics as well as pre- and post-treatment assessments of their psychopathology, social functioning, resources, coping style and quality of life were accomplished. Hierarchical regression analyses (mixed models) were then performed to analyze the associations between techniques, common factors and outcome variables.

Results

Results indicate that patterns of specific techniques are associated with the implementation of different common factors. In addition, specific associations of therapy techniques and common factors are related to distinct outcome variables.

Discussion

The identification of the active therapeutic ingredients and work mechanisms facilitates the development of integrated personalized psychotherapeutic interventions, which are tailored to the particular problems, needs and resources of the individual patient. This would allow for moving away from delivering standardized treatment packages with different untested elements and, thereby, might enhance the effectiveness and efficient implementation of evidence-based psychotherapy approaches.

Type
P29 - Psychotherapy
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2014
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.