Therapist reporting of suspected child abuse and maltreatment: factors associated with outcome

Several studies have found that making a report of suspected child abuse or maltreatment concerning a client in psychotherapy is more likely to have a positive outcome for the relationship or to effect no change, than to be damaging. The current study examined factors that were associated with outcome. Three variables, all of which concerned the client-therapist relationship, were found to be important for outcome. The quality of the relationship before the report made the greatest contribution to predicting outcome, with stronger alliances associated with positive outcome. Also important is the length of time in treatment, with longer periods of time related to positive outcome. In addition, more effective handling of making the report is related to positive outcome in that it differentiated improved from no-change groups. Lastly, statistical trends were found both for a relationship between therapist comfort in reporting and positive outcome, and for families tending to have more negative outcomes than adults in individual treatment or children. This is the first time that the examination of factors related to outcome was based upon information received from mental health professionals who were confirmed by CPS as reporters of suspected child abuse and maltreatment. Findings from this and related studies should be incorporated into training programs to ease concerns about the effects of reporting on the psychotherapy relationship and to offer guidance about factors that could increase positive outcomes. Such training could provide needed information to practitioners in reporting situations and enable more complete reporting.