title: Patients' Self-presentational Tactics as Predictors of the Early Therapeutic Alliance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The early therapeutic alliance is an important predictor for therapy outcome. However, knowledge about predictors of the therapeutic alliance is still limited. We examined if patients' self-presentational behaviors can predict the early therapeutic alliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Videotaped intake interviews of 60 randomly selected patients were coded for patients' self-presentational tactics. The therapeutic alliance was measured with the Bern Post-Session Report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the therapists' perspective, Agenda setting and Self-promotion were positively related and Supplication was negatively related to the therapeutic alliance. From the patients' perspective, Agenda setting was negatively related and Self-promotion was positively related to the therapeutic alliance. Provoking a response from the therapist was unrelated to the therapeutic alliance as judged from both therapist and patient perspectives. Correlations were of small-to-moderate size. These findings have important implications for building a constructive therapeutic alliance and identifying patients' needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' self-presentational behavior is a promising predictor of the early therapeutic alliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frühauf
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Figlioli
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Böck
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caspar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012649:Self Concept; D014743:Videotape Recording