Does the quality of the therapeutic alliance predict treatment completion in psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress?

Abstract

The present research explores factors that predict treatment completion status for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Counseling Alliance Subscale (CAS), a subscale of the Client Evaluation of Counseling Inventory ([CEC] Pace, 1997), was used to assess client ratings of the therapeutic alliance. Additional common predictors were assessed for correlation with the dependent variable, and those variables that met inclusion criteria were added to the model. A binary logistic regression was carried out to determine whether the prevailing model predicted treatment completion status membership (i.e., completers or non-completers). The current research provided evidence that higher client ratings of the therapeutic alliance were correlated with, but not predictive of treatment completion. Of the five included variables, post-secondary education completion was the only one found to be independently significant in predicting treatment completion status. In sum, this study provides implications for consideration of interpersonal factors in the psychotherapeutic treatment of PTSD. Keywords: trauma, posttraumatic stress, treatment completion, therapeutic alliance, treatment dropout