title: Development of a measure quantifying adverse psychotherapeutic ingredients: the Experiences of Therapy Questionnaire (ETQ).
abstract: While psychotherapies are of established value, they may, as active treatments, risk adverse outcomes. As there is no validated measure of potentially negative psychotherapeutic ingredients, we sought to develop such a measure for use in psychotherapy evaluation studies. Based on a review of the literature, a 103-item experiential measure was derived. Psychometric properties and scale score correlates were examined in a sample of more than 700 respondents. Principal component analyses revealed a five-factor solution, explaining 53.4% of the variance; namely 'Negative Therapist', 'Pre-occupying Therapy', 'Beneficial Therapy', 'Idealization of Therapist' and 'Passive Therapist' constructs. Derived factors had high internal consistency, and scale scores were correlated with a number of clinically relevant demographic and treatment characteristics. An independent study established high test-retest reliability for the measure. Assessment of any adverse effects of psychotherapy is of clinical and research significance. We report the development of a measure that should allow the impact of such effects to be quantified in treatment studies, and especially in apportioning the contribution of such non-specific therapeutic effects.
authors: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. g.parker@unsw.edu.au
authors: Gordon
authors: G
authors: Parker
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: Fletcher
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Berk
authors: Amelia
authors: A
authors: Paterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires