Relational depth as predictor of mental health outcomes in psychotherapy: random intercept cross-lagged analyses.

IF 3 1区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2025-09-11 DOI:10.1080/10503307.2025.2551073

Gina Di Malta, Joel Vos, Julian Bond, Biljana van Rijn, Mick Cooper

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Abstract

Background: Relational Depth (RD) in psychotherapy patients has been associated with positive outcomes using qualitative and correlational designs. No research has assessed whether the frequency of RD over the course of therapy can predict outcomes using a more robust longitudinal design in a clinical setting.

Methods: In a UK psychotherapy clinic, 1,086 clients (501 females, 234 males, 347 "prefer not to say," and 4 other) completed the Relational Depth Frequency Scale (RDFS), the Agnew Relationship Measure-5 (ARM-5, therapeutic alliance), the CORE-10 (psychological distress, primary outcome), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (depression), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) (anxiety) at intake and then every four sessions over the course of long-term psychotherapy. Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models (RI-CLPM) were used to assess the associations between variables within participant.

Results: Frequency of RD was a significant predictor of change in depression (t = -2.56, p = .010; r = -.060 medium effect size), and anxiety symptoms (t = -2.081, p = .037; r = -.050 medium effect size), but did not predict change in general psychological distress (t = -1.545, p = .122; r = -.038 small effect size). None of the outcome variables predicted future change in RDFS. The alliance was not a significant predictor of (nor predicted by) change on the three outcome variables. RDFS was a predictor of alliance (t = 3.510, p < .001; r = .103 medium to large effect size), but the alliance was not a significant predictor of RDFS.

Conclusion: Experiences of relational depth between psychotherapist and client may be an important determinant of outcomes. Future research should focus on strategies for facilitating RD in psychotherapy.

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关系深度作为心理治疗中心理健康结果的预测因子：随机截距交叉滞后分析。

背景：使用定性和相关设计，心理治疗患者的关系深度（RD）与积极结果相关。没有研究评估在治疗过程中RD的频率是否可以在临床环境中使用更可靠的纵向设计来预测结果。方法：在英国一家心理治疗诊所，1086名患者（501名女性，234名男性，347名“不愿说”和4名其他）在入院时完成了关系深度频率量表（RDFS）、Agnew关系测量-5 （arm5，治疗联盟）、CORE-10（心理困扰，主要结果）、患者健康问卷-9 (PHQ-9)（抑郁）和广泛性焦虑障碍-7 (GAD-7)（焦虑），然后在长期心理治疗过程中每四个疗程进行一次。随机截距交叉滞后面板模型（RI-CLPM）用于评估参与者内部变量之间的关联。结果：RD频率是抑郁（t = -2.56, p = 0.010; r = - 0.060中效应量）和焦虑症状（t = -2.081, p = 0.037; r = - 0.050中效应量）变化的显著预测因子，但不能预测一般心理困扰的变化（t = -1.545, p = 0.122; r = - 0.038小效应量）。没有结果变量预测未来RDFS的变化。该联盟不是三个结果变量变化的显著预测因子（也不是被预测因子）。RDFS是联盟的预测因子(t = 3.510, pr =。103中至大效应量)，但联盟不是RDFS的显著预测因子。结论：心理治疗师与来访者之间关系深度的经验可能是结果的重要决定因素。未来的研究应侧重于促进心理治疗中RD的策略。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

7.80

自引率

10.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： Psychotherapy Research seeks to enhance the development, scientific quality, and social relevance of psychotherapy research and to foster the use of research findings in practice, education, and policy formulation. The Journal publishes reports of original research on all aspects of psychotherapy, including its outcomes, its processes, education of practitioners, and delivery of services. It also publishes methodological, theoretical, and review articles of direct relevance to psychotherapy research. The Journal is addressed to an international, interdisciplinary audience and welcomes submissions dealing with diverse theoretical orientations, treatment modalities.