Publication information Contemporary Family Therapy, 26 (4): 361-387Publisher Springer Item record/more information http://hdl.handle.net/10197/5128
Publisher's statementThe final publication is available at www.springerlink.comPublisher's version (DOI) http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10591-004-0642-9Efficacy of BCT and EFT West Lake Drive, Athens, GA 30606 USA. Nicholsw@aol.com,
ABSTRACTEfficacy of BCT and EFT 3 Twenty treatment outcome studies, 13 of which evaluated behavioral couples therapy (BCT) and 7 of which evaluated emotionally focused therapy (EFT) were reviewed . A total of 827 couples participated in the 20 studies from which the following conclusions were drawn. BCT leads to short and long-term gains for moderate to severe couple distress. After treatment the average couple treated with BCT fares better than 83% of untreated couples. Between a half and twothirds show clinically significant improvement which is maintained at follow-up periods ranging form 6 months to 4 years. In the long term BCT probably leads to no better outcomes than its constituent components -behavioral exchange training, and communication and problem solving skills training. The addition of a cognitive therapy component to BCT or the use of a variety of treatment formats does not improve the efficacy of BCT. Integrative couples therapy and insightoriented marital therapy may be more effective than BCT, but the studies supporting this conclusion require replication. EFT leads to short and long-term gains for mild to moderate couple distress. After treatment the average couple treated with EFT fares better than 89% of untreated couples. Between a half and almost three quarters of couples show clinically significant improvement which is maintained at follow-up periods ranging form 4 months to 2 years. In a single EFT outcome study improvement rates increased from post-treatment to 2 years followup, suggesting the effects of EFT may strengthen with time rather than 'wash out'.The addition of a cognitive therapy component to EFT does not enhance its efficacy. EFT may be more effective than problem solving therapy and less effective than integrated systemic therapy, but the two studies supporting this conclusion require replication.Efficacy of BCT and EFT 4
