The effect of therapist-client personality difference upon treatment outcome in a psychiatric setting

This study examines the influence of therapist-client personality difference upon treatment outcome. This research was conducted at a community mental health center over a six and one half month period in which personality difference was evaluated for twenty-four clients and five therapists. Clients were identified at random from the client population seeking outpatient mental health services. Therapists volunteered for the study. Clients and therapists were given the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire to assess personality difference. Clients were given the Symptom Check List-90-Revised as a pretest-posttest measure to ascertain their diagnostic symptoms. A Client Satisfaction Survey (CAS) was administered at the end of the treatment experience to assess the client's evaluation of treatment. Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient was used as a primary statistical method. Sixteen statistical tests were run assessing the relationship between therapist-client personality difference and treatment outcome. Additional issues considered in this study were length of time in treatment, improvement rates in treatment, and diagnostic categories. No significant correlations were found between therapist-client personality difference and treatment outcome. Not one of the sixteen tests indicated a significant correlation at the 0.5 level of significance. However, themes in the data suggest that clients found their interaction with therapists to be very helpful regardless of the level of clinical improvement they recorded.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Social Work

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Sartor, Cynthia Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Allen-Meares, Paula

• Social Work
• Psychology, Clinical

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1990 Sartor, Cynthia Marie

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9114400
(UMI)AAI9114400

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/23681