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Exploring Associations Between Therapy Factors and Post-therapy Development After Naturalistic Psychotherapies

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Abstract

Earlier research on what contributes to long-term outcome after psychotherapy is scarce and scattered. Responding to this, the current study explores potential associations between therapy factors reported as salient by clients in naturalistic psychotherapy and variation in post-therapy-movement. Material from different codes and categories derived from an earlier content analysis was explored in relation to post-therapy-changes on OQ-45. In the first part of the study, two overarching themes (relational aspects and therapeutic operations) were included in a regression analysis of data from 32 clients. In the second part, more nuanced associations between material from different change- or process categories and post-therapy-movement were explored using data from 20 clients that showed reliable improvement at treatment termination but varied in later development. Reports of material related to relational aspects were recurrently associated with post-therapy improvement. Material suggesting that therapy was experienced as not fully complete (e.g., changes being superficial or wish for more treatment), as well as reports of more positive affect, correlated with later deterioration after improvement at termination. Different processes and changes appreciated by clients during therapy seem to vary as predictors of lasting gains.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by “The National Program for Integrated Clinical Specialist and PhD-training for Psychologists” in Norway. This program is a joint cooperation between the Universities of Bergen, Oslo, Tromsø, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Trondheim), the Regional Health Authorities, and the Norwegian Psychological Association. The program is funded jointly by The Ministry of Education and Research and The Ministry of Health and Care Services.

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  1. University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Vidar Blokhus Ekroll & Michael Helge Rønnestad

  2. Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway

    Vidar Blokhus Ekroll

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  1. Vidar Blokhus Ekroll
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  2. Michael Helge Rønnestad
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Correspondence to Vidar Blokhus Ekroll.

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Ekroll, V.B., Rønnestad, M.H. Exploring Associations Between Therapy Factors and Post-therapy Development After Naturalistic Psychotherapies. J Contemp Psychother 48, 15–25 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-017-9366-7

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