Accuracy of therapist perceptions of patients' alliance: Exploring the divergence.
OBJECTIVE
The therapeutic alliance is a well-established predictor of psychotherapy outcome, yet much research has shown that therapists' and patients' views of the alliance can diverge substantially. Therapists systematically underestimate their patients' perceived level of alliance, and the correlation between therapist and patient estimates of patient alliance is only moderate. The present study explored the divergence between therapists' and patients' perspectives on patients' alliance experience, and its relations to therapists' concurrent work involvement and session process experiences.


METHOD
Data from 98 patients treated by 26 therapists with psychodynamic psychotherapy were analyzed.


RESULTS
Therapist-patient divergence was significantly related to therapists' case-wise work involvement, but not to therapist's views of session process. The best predictor of therapist-patient divergence was therapists experiencing a "distressed practice" work involvement pattern.


CONCLUSION
Although therapists' work involvement experiences are not commonly investigated, they can be a relevant predictor of therapy processes.
['Hartmann|Armin|A|', 'Joos|Andreas|A|', 'Orlinsky|David Elliot|DE|', 'Zeeck|Almut|A|']
D000275:Adjustment Disorders D000328:Adult D001008:Anxiety Disorders D003299:Cooperative Behavior D003866:Depressive Disorder D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D001523:Mental Disorders D008875:Middle Aged D011369:Professional-Patient Relations D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes D011613:Psychotherapy D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic D013001:Somatoform Disorders
alliance process research psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy