Behavioral marital therapy: An evaluation of treatment effects across high and low risk settings

Abstract

The present study examined the generalization of treatment effects of a cognitive-behavioral treatment program for marital distress. Following a baseline phase, each of four couples received two phases of marital therapy within a multiple baseline across subjects design. The first phase of treatment was behavioral marital therapy (BMT) focusing on communication and problem solving skills. The second phase was cognitive-behavioral marital therapy (CBMT) which focused on conflict management skills in high risk interactive settings at home. Couples' communication was assessed in a training setting in the clinic and each of two generalization probe settings at home (a low risk and a high risk) setting. The BMT phase produced a clear reduction in communication negativity in the training setting which generalized to both the low and the high risk setting. The CMBT phase produced little additional changes in communication, however, it was associated with changes on a measure of positive and negative partner-referent thoughts.