title: A randomized trial of emotion-focused therapy for couples in a training clinic.
abstract: Forty married couples participated in a randomized trial comparing 8 weekly sessions of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for couples to a group of couples who were placed on an 8-week waiting list. A composite marital satisfaction score was created from scores on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Positive Feelings Questionnaire, and Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships scale. Controlling for pretest scores, participants in the treatment group had significantly higher levels of marital satisfaction after 8 weeks than wait-list participants. Supplementary analyses identified variables associated with gains in therapy and with dropping out of the study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1087, USA. denton@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Denton
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Burleson
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Hobbs
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D008393:Marriage; D011340:Problem Solving; D016896:Treatment Outcome