Therapeutic formats in the resolution of relationship dysfunction: an acceptability investigation

The current study examined the acceptability of four treatment-formats commonly used in marital therapy: conjoint, concurrent, group, and individual. A total of 356 subjects were randomly assigned to experimental conditions. These included three types of information (descriptive, research-oriented, and group-oriented) and two differing case histories presented across the treatment formats. Results revealed a clear and consistent pattern of preference for conjoint therapy, followed by concurrent, group, and individual formats, respectively. It was also found that providing efficacy information about alternative formats and varying case histories did not alter acceptability ratings.