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Is Psychotherapy Effective?

Is Psychotherapy Effective?. Is Psychotherapy Effective? No. Eysenck (1952)- Determined that improvement was no greater than spontaneous remission Between 2/3 and 3/4 of “neurotics” would recover naturally; this was no different from therapy clients

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Is Psychotherapy Effective?

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  1. Is Psychotherapy Effective?

  2. Is Psychotherapy Effective?No... • Eysenck (1952)- Determined that improvement was no greater than spontaneous remission • Between 2/3 and 3/4 of “neurotics” would recover naturally; this was no different from therapy clients • Prioleau, Murdock, Brody (1983)- Reviewed several therapy-outcome studies • Determined that psychotherapy is no different than placebo controls

  3. Is Psychotherapy Effective?No... • Some consequences of these findings… • Questioned the need for psychologists • Suggested that disorders may be untreatable • Sparked a massive research effort that continues today • Led to current pressure for accountability; empirically supported treatment movement

  4. Is Psychotherapy Effective?Yes... • Critique of Eysenck’s Conclusion • His argument was based on small number of reports (only 6 controlled studies) and many with questionable research methods • Vague criteria for diagnosis and improvement • No objective measurement • Those who ended therapy earlier than average were assumed to have not improved

  5. Is Psychotherapy Effective?Yes... • Bootzin- Argues that “placebos” are misrepresented as inert “psych. sugar pills” • Many so-called placebos may contain active ingredients • Jerome Frank’s 4 elements of any effective tx • Clear roles- Expert helper and person in need of help • Settings- Recognized place to seek help (Dr’s office) • Rationale- Believable explanation that provides hope • Therapeutic Rituals- Enhance faith in the rationale

  6. Is Psychotherapy Effective?Yes... • Smith, Glass & Miller- Conducted a meta-analysis* of over 400 studies • Found that the average therapy client showed more improvement than 75% of untreated individuals • Findings were stable across many different disorders • Lipsey & Wilson- Many psychotherapy studies have better outcomes than most medical treatments • No one asks “do doctors cure illnesses?”

  7. Is Psychotherapy Effective?Yes... • Consumer Reports (1994) • Surveyed nearly 3,000 individuals who had been in therapy during the previous 3 years • Over 90% reported significant long-term improvement • Assessed treatment benefits in the “real world” • Some have argued that this is the best study ever conducted to answer the question

  8. Is Psychotherapy Effective? What do you think?

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