THE EFFECTS OF VALUE SIMILARITY AND CLIENT LOCUS OF CONTROL ON CONVERGENCE AND IMPROVEMENT.

Abstract

According to previous research results, the relationship between initial (pretherapy) patient-therapist value similarity and psychotherapy outcome is not clear. In this study, 45 adult outpatients were examined with the intention of clarifying the relationship between patient-therapist value similarity, convergence, patient locus of control, and improvement. As hypothesized, initial similarity was negatively correlated with convergence and convergence was correlated with therapist-rated improvement. Also, when improvement was measured within the realm of specific symptoms, especially symptoms of paranoia and interpersonal sensitivity, additional significant findings were discovered involving the correlation of initial similarity as well as locus of control with improvement. In general, this study suggested the need for evaluating improvement within specific areas of functioning and through the use of several rating sources such as the patient, therapist, and an independent rater(s).