City Research Online

Abstract

therapeutic alliance consistently predicts dropout from psychological therapy, and ruptures in the therapeutic alliance may also predict dropout, yet there is a dearth
of research with adolescents. This study investigated whether markers of rupturerepair in the therapeutic alliance were indicative of different types of treatment ending in adolescents who received psychological treatment for depression. Data were from the IMPACT study, a trial investigating the effectiveness of therapies for adolescent depression. Participants were randomly allocated to receive a psychological therapy: Brief Psychosocial Intervention, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy or Short-Term Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. The sample (N=35) comprised adolescents who had either completed their treatment (n=14) or dropped out (n=21) according to their therapist. Dropout cases were further classified as dissatisfied (n=14) or got-whatthey-
needed (n=7) based on post-therapy interviews with the adolescent and therapist. Selected audio-recordings of therapy sessions were rated using the Rupture Resolution Rating System and Working Alliance Inventory (observer-version). Therapeutic alliance and rupture-repair during therapy were similar for completers and got-what-they-needed dropouts, while dissatisfied dropouts had poorer
therapeutic alliance, more ruptures, ruptures were frequently unresolved, and therapists contributed to ruptures to a greater extent. Qualitative analysis of the sessions led to the construction of three categories of therapist contribution to
ruptures: therapist minimal response; persisting with a therapeutic activity; and focus on risk. Results suggest that ruptures, especially when unresolved, could be regarded
as warning signs of disengagement and dropout from psychological treatment. Future research should investigate how ruptures may be effectively identified and resolved in
treatment with adolescents.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© American Psychological Association, 2020. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is to be available, upon publication, at: https://doi.apa.org/doi/10.1037/pst0000279
Publisher Keywords:	dropout; psychotherapy; adolescents; ruptures; therapeutic alliance
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Healthcare Services Research & Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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