Abstract
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Abstract
Year 2021
October 2021

SHBC1478

Abstract Title
Client and therapy-related predictors of response to therapy
Authors

Y.X.S.TEY1, N.RANE1, F.B.L.TAN2, K.P.X.TAN2, W.Z.LEE2, N.A.ABDULLAH1, S.H.X.LU1, Y.M.MOK1, G.C.TAN1

Institutions

Institute of Mental Health1, National University of Singapore2

Background & Hypothesis

40% of improvements in clients’ clinical outcomes have been attributed to client factors, while therapy-specific factors account for 15% of improvement. Yet, little is known about how these factors predict therapeutic outcomes in the Singapore context.

Methods

Scores for anxiety (GAD-7), depression (QIDS-16), and quality of life (Q-LES-Q-SF) were collected longitudinally from Institute of Mental Health clients (N = 32) who underwent internet-based, group or individual psychotherapy over two months. They also completed the Readiness for Psychotherapy Index (RPI) and Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (CNIP) scales at baseline, as well as the Client Task Specific Change Measure (CTSC-R) post-therapy. Linear regressions were conducted to identify client and therapy-related predictors of improvement.

Results

Overall, therapy improved anxiety, depression and quality of life. RPI-Distress predicted greater improvements in depression (B=-.469, t(29)=-2.063, p=.048), anxiety (B=-.685, t(30)=-2.906, p=.007) and quality of life (B=1.077, t(29)=2.415, p=.022). Therapy-related change predicted greater improvements in depression (B=-.103, t(30)=-2.106, p=.044), anxiety (B=-.113, t(30)=-2.072, p=.047) and quality of life (B=.350, t(29) =3.105, p=.004). Additionally, anxiety improved if clients preferred therapy that was emotionally intense (B=-.590, t(30)=-3.081, p=.004) and past-focused (B=-.843, t(30)=-3.436, p=.002).

Discussion & Conclusion

The literature supports our finding that Distress on the RPI and the experience of change in therapy are common predictors of improvement in anxiety, depression and quality of life. We have discovered that preference for emotionally intense and past-focused therapy were unique predictors of improvements in anxiety, which may be informative when planning treatment for clients with anxiety.

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