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Article
Relation of therapeutic alliance and perfectionism to outcome in brief outpatient treatment of depression
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (2000)
  • David C. Zuroff, McGill University
  • Sidney J. Blatt, Yale University
  • Stuart M. Sotsky
  • Janice L. Krupnick
  • Daniel J. Martin
  • Charles A. Sanislow
  • Sam Simmens
Abstract

Prior analyses of the National Institute of Mental Health Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program demonstrated that perfectionism was negatively related to outcome, whereas both the patient's perception of the quality of the therapeutic relationship and the patient contribution to the therapeutic alliance were positively related to outcome across treatment conditions (S. J. Blatt, D. C. Zuroff, D. M. Quinlan, & P. A. Pilkonis, 1996; J. L. Krupnick et al., 1996). New analyses examining the relations among perfectionism, perceived relationship quality, and the therapeutic alliance demonstrated that (a) the patient contribution to the alliance and the perceived quality of the therapeutic relationship were independent predictors of outcome, (b) perfectionistic patients showed smaller increases in the Patient Alliance factor over the course of treatment, and (c) the negative relation between perfectionism and outcome was explained (mediated) by perfectionistic patients' failure to develop stronger therapeutic alliances.

Keywords
  • NIMH,
  • TDCRP,
  • Depression,
  • Therapeutic Alliance,
  • Treatment Outcome,
  • Psychotherapy,
  • CBT,
  • IPT
Publication Date
February, 2000
Citation Information
Zuroff, D. C., Blatt, S. J., Sotsky, S. M., Krupnick, J. L., Martin, D. J., Sanislow, C. A., & Simmens, S. (2000). Relation of therapeutic alliance and perfectionism to outcome in brief outpatient treatment of depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(1), 114-124.