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Therapist perceptions of their own measurement-based, problem-specific effectiveness
Michael J Constantino1, James F Boswell2, Alice E Coyne3
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|April 27, 2023
Summary
Therapists struggle to accurately perceive their own effectiveness in treating specific patient problems. Overestimating effectiveness correlated with worse patient outcomes, while underestimation showed better results, highlighting the value of therapist humility.
Area of Science:
- Psychotherapy research
- Clinical psychology
- Patient-reported outcomes
Background:
- Therapist effectiveness varies in treating different patient problems.
- Accurate self-perception of effectiveness is crucial for improving clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess how accurately therapists perceive their problem-specific effectiveness.
- To determine if self-perceptions predict global therapist performance.
Main Methods:
- 50 therapists' data from 1,363 patients using the Treatment Outcome Package (TOP).
- Therapists rated perceived effectiveness; data classified actual effectiveness across 12 domains.
- Chi-square and multilevel modeling analyses were employed.
Main Results:
- Therapists' self-perceptions were largely no better than chance in predicting actual effectiveness.
- Overestimating effectiveness linked to worse patient outcomes; underestimation linked to better outcomes.
- Therapist humility may be a key factor in global effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Therapist self-awareness of problem-specific effectiveness is limited.
- Accurate self-assessment and humility are vital for effective psychotherapy.
- Clinical training should foster therapist humility.
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