The need for systematic research of patient selection variables and group composition dimensions that are related to favorable group therapy process and outcome has been emphasized repeatedly by clinicians and researchers alike. The present study attempted to address this issue by investigating the efficacy of pretraining work behavior as a selection and a composition variable in group psychotherapy. / The work behavior of 66 outpatients in nine cognitive-experiential pretraining groups was measured. Six of the pretraining groups were recomposed into either high or low work therapy groups on the basis of the pretraining scores. The other three groups entered therapy intact. The therapy groups met once weekly for 90-minute sessions and were time-limited for an expected duration of two years. The orientation was psychodynamic. Audiotapes of group sessions from the first five months of therapy were process-analyzed by means of the Therapeutic Work Rating System to assess levels of work in therapy. A comprehensive battery of outcome measures was administered before therapy and six months after therapy began. Hypotheses were formulated concerning: (1) the effects of composition on process and outcome; (2) the relationship of work behavior to outcome; and (3) the rates of premature termination. / The results indicated that pretraining work behavior had merit as a composition variable and showed promise as a selection variable. Group composition was shown to have a strong effect on therapy process, but less effect on outcome. Patients in the high work therapy groups produced significantly more work and worked at significantly higher levels than patients in either the low work or intact therapy groups. In terms of outcome, few significant group condition differences were found. When group conditions were collapsed, a general trend of improvement was found for 10 out of 12 outcome variables. Pretraining work scores correlated modestly with improvement on four outcome variables. Dropout rates were higher than predicted and appeared to be affected by recomposition. The methodological limitations and the clinical implications of the study were discussed in detail. Suggestions for future research were provided.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.71968 |
| Date | January 1985 |
| Creators | Connelly, Jacquelyn Lois. |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Psychology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 000220568, proquestno: AAINL20828, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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