The demand for therapy has increased 400 percent in the past three decades, noting that about 250 different therapies treat the one syndrome shared by all patients, namely, demoralization. Whether such therapies really work is the subject of this report. (JN)

Studied adherence of therapists to behaviors specified in cognitive-behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, and clinical management manuals. Rated therapist adherence in each of 4 sessions from 180 patients in treatment phase of National Institute of Mental Health Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program. Therapists exhibited more…

Demonstrated that behavioral marital therapy (BMT) and insight-oriented marital therapy (IOMT) could be rendered in a distinct and uncontaminated fashion in manual-guided outcome research where therapists were crossed with treatment condition. BMT proved to be highly structured, with 93 percent of therapist interventions reflecting behavioral…

Analytic therapists as a group judged therapeutic outcome more positively than did behavior therapists, which was interpreted as a greater predisposition to see change where none existed. (Author)

Examined therapist and client perceptions of transcripts of psychotherapy--one using facilitative conditions as treatment and one using them as intermediate variables leading to assertive training. For therapists, assertive training was estimated as more effective. The behavioral therapist was seen as more expert. For clients, no significant…

That psychoanalytic theory has not been displaced by the behavioral theory of neurosis is remarkable in view of the persuasive evidence that exists for the efficacy of behavior therapy. One reason for this seems to be the persistence of widespread misperceptions of behavior therapy. (Author)

Findings indicated that expert therapists were similar in their communication of empathy, the basis for their therapeutic relationships. Theoretical orientation, however, differentially influenced use of direct guidance and facilitative techniques, interview content, therapist self-disclosure, therapist initiative, and supportive therapy climate.…

Obese females were assigned to a standard behavioral treatment (SBT) group, a group receiving weight control manuals via mail (MMC), or a waiting list control condition. Results revealed superiority of both treatments over control condition. SBT subjects did better than MMC subjects. Weight loss for MMC subjects was minimal. (Author/BEF)

Addresses training issues in behavior therapy, identifying methods and skills considered most important for affecting change in client behavior and reviewing progress made in demonstrating that these skills can be taught effectively. Discusses decision making skills used to identify problems, select appropriate interventions, and evaluate client…

A survey concerning treatment of children with posttraumatic stress disorder was completed by 77 child psychiatrists and 82 nonmedical therapists. Medical responders reported most preferred treatments included pharmacotherapy, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Nonmedical respondents preferred cognitive-behavioral, family, and…

Based on an earlier list of characteristics, ten assertions were derived about the nature of psychotherapy upon which it was believed that humanistic therapists would agree. These assertions were then submitted to three groups of therapists (111 returns) listed in the "National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology":…

Numerous studies report that depression is the most common psychiatric disorder of the elderly. According to the behavioral view, depression results from inadequate, ineffective or insufficient positive reinforcement. In contrast, the cognitive position sees depression as a result of negative thinking about oneself, one's experience, and the…

Research has shown that therapy preference affects both the quality of the initial therapy session and treatment outcome. To determine personality characteristics which would affect subjects' preference of therapeutic orientation and to obtain qualitative information about subjects' therapy preferences, 203 community college students indicated…