The Brazilian-adapted Working Alliance Inventory: preliminary report on the psychometric properties of the original and short revised versions

Abstract Introduction Alliance is an essential component of all psychotherapies and a consistent predictor of its outcomes. The Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) is a widely used and psychometrically sound measure of alliance. It assesses three key aspects of the construct: a) agreement on the tasks of therapy; b) agreement on the therapeutic goals; and c) development of an affective bond. Objective To preliminarily analyze the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of both the original, 36-item WAI, and of the short form revised, 16-item version (WAI-SR). Methods The sample comprised 201 psychodynamic psychotherapy patients. Alliance assessments were made after the 4th treatment session. Results The inventory adapted to Brazilian Portuguese, in both the original and short forms, appears to be reliable and valid to measure alliance and its dimensions by clients in psychotherapy. Further studies are needed to replicate and expand the findings.

Reliability and validity of Chinese version of Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form Revised in the inpatients with schizophrenia / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective • To investigate the reliability and validity of Chinese version of Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form Revised (WAI-SR) in the hospitalized schizophrenics. Methods • A sample of 124 inpatient schizophrenics who were diagnosed according to International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision in Shanghai Mental Health Center and collected by convenience sampling, were interviewed by questionnaire. Item analysis, internal consistency, construct validity and criterion validity were tested using total sample. Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire-15 (PDRQ-15) and Chinese version of Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale (WFPTS) were used as criteria to test criterion validity. Results • Exploratory factor analysis extracted two dimensions labeled "goal and task" and "affective bond", and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 63.99%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-factor model had higher adjusted goodness of fit index. The scores of scale and its two dimensions exhibited positive correlations with PDRQ-15 and WFPTS (r=0.324-0.726, P<0.01). The internal consistency of the scale (Cronbach's α coefficient) was 0.864, and split-half reliability was 0.919.Conclusion • The Chinese version of WAI-SR is acceptable in reliability and validity and can be recommended for alliance assessment in the inpatients with schizophrenia.

"Working Alliance Inventory" versión observacional: traducción, adaptación y validación al castellano / Working Alliance Inventory observational form: translation, adaptation and validation to Spanish

La investigación ha demostrado la fuerte relación entre alianza terapéutica y resultados en psicoterapia. Una buena alianza está asociada a mejores resultados en psicoterapia. Para medir alianza se han desarrollado una serie de instrumentos para terapeutas, pacientes, y observadores. Los instrumentos observacionales son menos intrusivos, disminuyendo los posibles efectos que las mediciones tendrían en el tratamiento. Además, han resultado más válido en algunas poblaciones clínicas. En Chile no se cuenta con un instrumento confiable y validado que mida alianza terapéutica desde la perspectiva de un observador. El presente artículo da cuenta de la traducción al castellano, y la adaptación y validación del WorkAlliance Inventory (WAI-0) en su versión observacional para Chile. El (WAI-0) es un instrumento válido y confiable para medir alianza terapéutica.

Research has shown the strong association between therapeutic alliance and therapeutic outcomes. A good alliance is linked with better outcomes in psychotherapy. A number of instruments have been developed to measure the alliance aimed at therapists, patients, and observers. Observational instruments are less intrusive, and reduce the possible effects that measurements may have on treatment. In addition, they have proven to be more valid in some clinical populations. In Chile, there are no reliable and validated instruments to measure the therapeutic alliance from the point of view of an observer. The present article introduces a translation into Spanish along with an adaptation and validation for Chile of the Work Alliance Inventory (WAI-O) in its observational version. WAI-O is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the therapeutic alliance.

Adaptación de Inventario de Alianza de Trabajo en su Versión Observador: WAI-O-A / Adaptation of the Working Alliance Inventory in its Observer Form: WAI-O-A

El objetivo del presente artículo es presentar las tareas de validación del Inventario de Alianza de Trabajo en su Versión Observador para una muestra de pacientes y terapeutas de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Para ello se detallan las diferentes tareas realizadas a in de obtener datos sobre los distintos tipos de validez (teórica o estructural, concurrencia y de constructo) involucrados en el proceso general de validación. Se presentan los resultados estadísticos asociados al estudio de la validez de constructo.

The aim of the present paper is to present the tasks for the validation of the Working Alliance Inventory in its Observer Form, in a sample of patients and psychotherapists of Buenos Aires. The different tasks made in order to obtain the data about the different types of validity (theoretical or structural, concurrent and construct) involved in the general validation process are detailed. Statistical results related to the study of construct validity are presented.