This clinical outcome study compared three rational-emotive therapy (RET) conditions with a realistic alternate treatment (relaxation training and support) and with no contact. The efficacy of RET alone, or RET in combination with either rational role reversal or rational-emotive imagery, was examined. Fifty male and female adult outpatients were assigned to one of five treatment groups and were then further divided into a higher or lower IQ condition within each group. The dependent variables, administered before and after 12 treatment sessions, included measures of rational thinking, anxiety, depression, and neuroticism. Results showed that RET, particularly with the addition of rational role reversal or rational-emotive imagery, produced significantly better results than did relaxation training and support or no contact. These findings are discussed as being particularly important, since this is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of RET with a sample of multisymptomatic applicants to a community mental health center. Further research to find the critical elements in RET, using actual patient populations, is suggested.
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