Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
08:36
Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
Published on: April 19, 2024
1.1K
The effectiveness of initial therapy contact: A systematic review
Katie Aafjes-van Doorn1, Kristen Sweeney2
1Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA.
Clinical Psychology Review
|November 17, 2019
Summary
Initial therapy contacts, defined as the first 3 hours or less of psychological treatment, show significant patient benefits including symptom change. These positive effects, observed across various formats, are maintained at follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
Background:
- Initial therapy contacts are critical but their direct impact on symptom change is understudied.
- Understanding the effect of early treatment interactions is vital for optimizing patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize empirical evidence on the effect of initial therapy contacts on symptom change.
- To evaluate the methodological quality of studies examining the impact of early psychological treatment.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search identifying 35 empirical studies.
- Analysis included study characteristic comparison, methodological rigor assessment (risk of bias), and narrative synthesis.
- Studies varied in therapy format (single session, multi-session) and design (controlled, uncontrolled).
Main Results:
- A significant proportion of patients reported benefits, including symptom reduction.
- Positive effects were most evident when compared to no-treatment controls.
- Observed benefits were generally maintained at follow-up assessments.
Conclusions:
- Various initial therapy contact formats can be beneficial for patients in primary care settings.
- Despite methodological limitations in existing research, early treatment interactions appear to positively impact patient symptoms.
- Further research with robust methodologies is warranted to confirm and expand these findings.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy
285
Research has highlighted several critical factors that influence the effectiveness of psychotherapy, such as the therapeutic alliance, the therapist, and the client.
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...
285
01:28Drug Therapy
223
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
223
01:30Family Therapy
458
Family therapy conceptualizes psychological challenges as arising from dysfunctional interactions within the family unit, rather than as isolated issues within individuals. This approach seeks to address and transform the patterns of communication, roles, and relationships within families to promote healthier dynamics and emotional well-being for all members.
Strategic Family Therapy
Strategic family therapy emphasizes resolving communication barriers and improving problem-solving abilities...
Strategic Family Therapy
Strategic family therapy emphasizes resolving communication barriers and improving problem-solving abilities...
458
01:25Interpersonal Psychotherapy
264
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.
264
01:29Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
153
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is the clinical practice of measuring specific drug levels in a patient's blood or body tissues to manage and optimize therapy. TDM is crucial for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, like warfarin and phenytoin, where incorrect doses can lead to treatment failure or severe side effects. This monitoring ensures the dosage administered is within a safe and effective range. The factors affecting therapeutic drug monitoring include:Patient-Specific Factors:a.
153
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
729
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
729