Client preferences, therapy activities and preference-activity match as predictors of therapy outcome

• Published in: Psychotherapy research 2024-05, p.1-16
• Main Authors: Faye Jacobsen, Celia, Karstoft, Karen-Inge, Falkenström, Fredrik, Nielsen, Jan, Lunn, Susanne, Poulsen, Stig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1050-3307; 1468-4381
• DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2024.2353358

This study investigated whether distinct types of psychotherapy activities, the client's preference towards these activities prior to therapy, and the degree of match between client preferences and therapy activities, served as predictors of treatment outcomes. A total of 621 clients (  = 42 years, 71.7% female) received individual psychotherapy by 54 psychologists. Associations between activity preferences, therapy activities, and preference-activity match as predictors, and symptom change and treatment dropout as outcomes were analyzed using multilevel longitudinal and logistic modelling and polynomial regression models with response surface analysis. No type of therapy activity or activity preference significantly predicted symptom change in therapy, while higher levels of therapy activities predicted an increased risk of dropout. Moreover, matching and higher levels of and a activities predicted an increased risk of dropout, and matching and higher levels of activities predicted a decreased risk of dropout. Finally, a preference-activity mismatch in predicted an increased risk of dropout from therapy, both at higher and lower levels of . Distinct types of therapy activity preferences may, especially when (mis)matched with similar levels of the same therapy activities, differentially predict particular dropout from therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05630560.