title: Preferences for behavioural, analytic and gestalt psychotherapy.
abstract: This study investigated preferences for behavioural, analytic and gestalt psychotherapy among a sample of 40 SES class III and IV adult females and 67 college freshmen who had never been actual therapy patients. A scaled survey assessed general preference, preference given an imagined long-standing depressive disorder, preference given an imagined specific phobia, and preference for the therapist-patient relationship. Three audio tapes were designed, each describing one of the modalities. High inter-rater reliability and agreement were determined by three independent judges. Results showed that young females had a general preference for gestalt therapy. Young and old females, but not young males, significantly preferred behavioural therapy for a specific phobia. Under forced-choice conditions the group as a whole significantly preferred gestalt therapy. No differences were found for the relationship or preference given a depressive disorder. Preference was hypothesized as a cognitive structure with potential use in therapist-client matching.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005864:Gestalt Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012737:Sex Factors