The Influence of Expectancy Persuasion Techniques on Socially Anxious Analogue Patients' Treatment Beliefs and Therapeutic Actions

Ametrano, Rebecca M.; Constantino, Michael J.; Nalven, Tessa

doi:10.1521/ijct.2017.10.3.187

Cited by 22 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…At 1-month follow-up, positive response to the treatment rationale was also related to an increase in participant’s frequency in engaging in exposure tasks. Ametrano et al (2017) replicated these findings with 178 undergraduates screened for elevated social anxiety. Consistent with previous studies, provision of a CBT rationale was related to participants increased anxiety change expectations and perceived confidence and helpfulness in exposure tasks.…”

Section: The Importance Of Cogent Rationalesmentioning

confidence: 69%

Persuasiveness: An underappreciated characteristic of effective therapists.

Vaz¹,

Sousa²

2024

Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice

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Psychotherapy has been conceptualized as a process of social influence (Frank & Frank, 1991; Wampold, 2018). Therapists play a crucial role in cocreating new adaptive meanings and expectations that mobilize clients toward an increased sense of agency and mastery. We argue that these tasks depend on the persuasive power of the psychotherapist. The goal of this article is to provide a brief overview on the literature and research on therapist’s persuasiveness and theoretical contributions for future directions. We define therapist’s persuasiveness as the major verbal and nonverbal therapist skills that facilitate positive treatment expectations and credibility. Accumulated research on the placebo effect, client’s expectancies, charisma, and therapist’s interpersonal skills gives new empirical depth to the construct of therapeutic persuasiveness. In light of these findings, we discuss implications and provide recommendations for therapist training and future research.

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Section: The Importance Of Cogent Rationalesmentioning

confidence: 69%

Persuasiveness: An underappreciated characteristic of effective therapists.

Vaz¹,

Sousa²

2024

Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice

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“…There has been debate over the distinctness of patients' treatment credibility belief and their outcome expectation, with some arguing that the credibility belief may be at least a partial determinant of one's prognostic outcome expectation (Hardy et al, 1995). Supporting this view, treatment credibility and outcome expectation are often positively and moderately correlated (Ametrano, Constantino, & Nalven, 2017;Constantino, Penek, Bernecker, & Overtree, 2014). Moreover, research has demonstrated that the provision of a logical and compelling treatment rationale (components of credibility) can increase patients' outcome expectation postrationale delivery (Ametrano et al, 2017).…”

Section: Definitionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A meta-analysis of the association between patients’ early perception of treatment credibility and their posttreatment outcomes.

et al. 2018

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Patients' perception of treatment credibility represents their belief about a treatment's personal logicality, suitability, and efficaciousness. Although long considered an important common factor bearing on clinical outcome, there have been no systematic reviews of the credibility-outcome association. The present study represents a meta-analysis of the association between patients' credibility perception and their posttreatment outcomes. To be included, articles published through August, 2017 had to (a) include a clinical sample, (b) include a therapist-delivered treatment of at least 3 sessions, (c) include a measure of patients' own early treatment credibility perception, (d) include at least 1 posttreatment mental health outcome not explicitly referenced as a follow-up occasion, and (e) report a statistical test of the credibility-outcome association. The meta-analysis was conducted on 24 independent samples (extracted from 19 references) with 1,504 patients. The overall weighted effect size was r ϭ .12, p Ͻ .001, or d ϭ .24, with high heterogeneity (I 2 ϭ 57%) and no evidence of publication bias. There were no significant moderating effects on the credibility-outcome association for any of the potential moderators that we evaluated. The meta-analytic findings are discussed in light of methodological limitations and with regard to their practice implications. Clinical Impact StatementQuestion: This article examined the association between patients' perception of treatment credibility and their outcomes after treatment ends. Findings: Patients' treatment credibility belief is an empirically supported correlate of treatment outcome that therapists would do well to assess throughout treatment, attempt to heighten at treatment's outset, attempt to responsively match to intervention style, and respond to sensitively if/when it wanes. Meaning: The treatment credibilityimprovement correlation increases the scientific credibility of formerly ill-named "nonspecific" belief factors; thus, there is sufficient information to incorporate persuasive, credibility-enhancing strategies into treatment rationale delivery, ongoing clinical exchange, and training. Next Steps: Future research needs to (a) improve credibility measurement, (b) test strategies that causally enhance patients' perceptions of treatment and therapist credibility to improve treatment efficacy, and (c) illuminate both patient and therapist contributions to such credibility beliefs to help tailor clinical practice and training.

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“…Participants assigned to the treatment rationale condition read an in-depth description of iCBT, including rates of usage, research basis, and accessibility. The rationale used persuasion techniques that have been proposed to increase outcome expectancy for psychotherapy, including an authoritative speaker (a University professor and licensed clinical psychologist) and emphasis on empirical support ( 35 ). The rationale ended with a “frequently asked questions” section that specifically addressed the most commonly perceived advantages and disadvantages of therapist-assisted iCBT ( 16 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Acceptability and Uptake Behavior for Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Molloy

Ellis

et al. 2021

Front. Digit. Health

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Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) programs have the potential to improve access to mental healthcare, but they are not viewed as acceptable nor widely utilized by the general public. This study tested whether two acceptance-facilitating interventions improved acceptability and uptake-related behavior for therapist assisted and self-guided iCBT. Participants were randomly assigned to read a treatment rationale for iCBT (vs. a brief definition) and to receive a small financial incentive (or not) for seeking more information about evidence-based iCBT programs. Participants (N = 662) were a diverse group recruited from a University participant pool and the surrounding community. Participants completed standardized measures of attitudes toward and outcome expectancy for iCBT and a single question about willingness to use it and were given the opportunity to get information about accessing evidence-based iCBT programs. A series of MANCOVAs showed small, positive effects of the treatment rationale on attitudes and outcome expectancy for both self-guided and therapist-assisted iCBT, but not for willingness to use it. A hierarchical logistic regression model found no effect of the treatment rationale or financial incentive on whether participants sought additional information about how to access iCBT, although psychopathology symptoms and identifying as White or multiracial were positively associated with information-seeking. Inconsistent with past research, participants rated therapist-assisted and self-guided iCBT as equally acceptable. Participants recruited from the community reported greater willingness to use iCBT than University students. These results underscore the urgent need for further research toward improving the acceptability and uptake of iCBT so that it may better fulfill its potential to fill the gap in unmet mental health need.

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The Influence of Expectancy Persuasion Techniques on Socially Anxious Analogue Patients' Treatment Beliefs and Therapeutic Actions

Cited by 22 publications

References 34 publications

Persuasiveness: An underappreciated characteristic of effective therapists.

Persuasiveness: An underappreciated characteristic of effective therapists.

A meta-analysis of the association between patients’ early perception of treatment credibility and their posttreatment outcomes.

Improving Acceptability and Uptake Behavior for Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

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