Patients' expectations of therapeutic improvement and their outcomes.
The authors studied the relationship between patients' expectations of therapeutic improvement and their actual outcomes after 8 and 12 months of group psychotherapy. Using patients' self-evaluations and assessments by therapists and independent judges, they found a positive relationship between expectations and outcomes only when assessments were derived from patients. The authors discuss the possibility of a continuing expectational set in patients toward psychotherapy.
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012647:Self-Assessment