Prediction and Responsiveness in Behavioural Marital Therapy

Abstract

There is empirical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of behavioural marital therapy. However the issues of predicting outcome and the responsiveness of particular marital problems to behavioural treatments, while crucial, have been largely ignored. Forty-five couples requesting therapy were consecutively assigned to either conjoint treatment, couples group treatment or treatment of one partner alone to ascertain whether a screening profile could be developed that would predict treatment outcome. In addition, the presenting target problems were analysed to investigate their responsiveness to treatment. The effects of the treatment were evaluated using measures of marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, presenting marital target problems and by an independent assessor. Using demographic and treatment variables as regressors, the analyses revealed that the coefficients were not on the whole statistically significant in predicting outcome. The trend analysis of target problems showed that conjoint treatment produced a more rapid rate of change compared to the other treatments. In addition, particular marital problems failed to respond to the treatment suggesting that the behavioural approach may require modification in the treatment of these problems.

Prediction of response to treatment in a randomized clinical trial of marital therapy.

“…We briefly review the previous research with respect to these classes of predictors. 1 Regarding demographic variables, four studies have found evidence of more favorable treatment outcome for younger couples (Baucom & Aiken, 1984;Bennun, 1985;Hahlweg, Schindler, Revenstorf, & Brangelmann, 1984;O'Leary & Turkewitz, 1981), but three other studies failed to replicate these findings (Crowe, 1978;Jacobson, Follette, & Pagel, 1986;Mendonca, Lumley, & Hunt, 1982). Two studies have revealed conflicting relationships between education and success in treatment, and one study found that less educated couples responded more favorably (Crowe, 1978); however, another study found no relationship between education and treatment success (Mendonca et al, 1982).…”

Sexual Addiction or Simply Cheating?

“…Atkins et al [12] points out that couples that experience infidelity tend to experience approximately the same distress following treatment than couples who present with no fidelity related issues. Fidelity issues appear to be one of the most difficult relationship problems to treat and jealousy possibly impossible to treat [13][14][15]. In addition, only approximately 50% of the couples receiving therapy for infidelity appear to demonstrate significant progress by the end of therapy [16].…”

The GRIMS. A psychometric instrument for the assessment of marital discord

“…Fifteen therapists were asked to identify (1) areas which they believed to be important in marital harmony and (2) the areas they would assess during initial interviews. Information from clients was obtained in the context of a marital therapy study (Bennun, 1985) where 57 couples were specifically requested to identify their targets for change. Targets reported included the request that their partner alter specific behaviours or habits that were felt to be irritating or unpleasant ( 19% :I.…”