Changes in motivation and the therapeutic alliance during a pretherapy diagnostic and motivation-enhancing phase among psychotherapy outpatients

Abstract

Psychotherapy motivation (PTM) and therapeutic alliance (TA) are factors known to have significant impact on psychotherapy outcome. This study investigates the change of PTM and TA as well as factors influencing these variables during a pretherapy diagnostic and motivation-enhancing phase in 107 psychotherapy outpatients. At the beginning (T1) and the end (T2) of the diagnostic and motivation phase, PTM and TA were measured using the Questionnaire for the Measurement of Psychotherapy Motivation and the Helping Alliance Questionnaire (patient and therapist versions). In addition, patients completed the General Health Questionnaire and Inventory of Interpersonal Problems. Between T1 and T2, PTM decreased significantly on negative illness consequences and psychosocially based cause, whereas patients improved significantly on treatment expectations and openness to psychotherapy. With respect to the TA, patients were highly satisfied with the therapeutic relationship and the results of the pretherapy phase. Th...