Alliance Between Therapist and Multi-stressed Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effect of Family-Based Videoconferencing.

Background: A strong therapeutic alliance or working relationship is essential for effective face-to-face family-based psychotherapy. However, little is known about the use of VC on alliance in family-based therapy. The recent COVID-19 pandemic led to a national lockdown during which most family-based therapy transferred to VC. Objective: The current study analyzed the development and strength of alliance prior and during lockdown for multi-stressed families participating in Multisystemic Therapy (MST). Method: Alliance with the therapist was reported monthly by 846 caregivers (81% female). Using latent growth curve models (longitudinal approach), the development of alliance was estimated for families participating in MST prior to the lockdown, transferring to VC early in treatment or late in treatment. Using regression analyses (cross-sectional approach), lockdown (yes/no) was included as predictor of alliance. In these analyses, type of family (regular; intellectual disability; concerns regarding child abuse or neglect) and gender of caregiver were included as moderators. Results: Both analytical approaches showed that alliance was not affected by VC, except for families with concerns of child abuse, who reported lower alliances during lockdown. However, these results where no longer significant when controlling for multiple testing. Conclusions: Strong alliances can be developed and maintained during family-based VC sessions with multi-stressed families. However, for some subgroups, such as families with concerns of child abuse, VC might not be suitable or sufficient. Future research needs to investigate the potential and limitations of using VC with families.

Toward tailored care for families with multiple problems: A quasi-experimental study on effective elements of care.

Several effective interventions have been developed for families with multiple problems (FMP), but knowledge is lacking as to which specific practice and program elements of these interventions deliver positive outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the degree to which practice and program elements (contents of and structure in which care is provided) contribute to the effectiveness of interventions for FMP in general and for subgroups with child and/or parental psychiatric problems, intellectual disabilities, or substance use. We performed a quasi-experimental study on the effectiveness of practice and program elements provided in attested FMP interventions. Using self-report questionnaires, we measured primary (child's internalizing and externalizing problems) and secondary (parental stress and social contacts) outcomes at the beginning, end, and three months thereafter. By means of Latent Profile Analysis, we identified groups of families receiving similar combinations of practice elements ("profiles"), and we calculated propensity scores. Next, we assessed how practice element profiles and program elements affected improvement in outcomes, and whether these effects were moderated by subgroup characteristics. We found three practice element profiles (explorative/supportive, action-oriented, and their combination), which were equally effective. Regarding program elements, effects were enhanced by more frequent telephone contact between visits and more frequent intervision. Effectiveness of practice and program elements varied for specific FMP subgroups. Variations in the content of care for FMP do not affect its effectiveness, but variations in the structure of the care do. This finding can help to further improve effective interventions.

Se han desarrollado varias intervenciones eficaces para familias multiproblemáticas, pero se sabe poco acerca de qué elementos específicos de la práctica y de los programas de estas intervenciones producen resultados positivos. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el grado en el cual los elementos de la práctica y de los programas (los contenidos de la asistencia y la estructura en la cual se presta) contribuyen a la eficacia de las intervenciones para familias multiproblemáticas en general, y para subgrupos de padres o hijos con problemas psiquiátricos, discapacidades intelectuales o consumo de sustancias. Realizamos un estudio cuasiexperimental sobre la eficacia de los elementos de la práctica y de los programas proporcionados en intervenciones certificadas para familias multiproblemáticas. Utilizando cuestionarios de autoinforme, medimos los resultados primarios (los problemas de interiorización y de exteriorización de los niños) y secundarios (estrés de los padres y contactos sociales) al comienzo, al final y tres meses a partir de entonces. Por medio del análisis de perfiles latentes, identificamos grupos de familias que recibían combinaciones similares de elementos de la práctica ("perfiles") y calculamos los puntajes de propensión. Después, evaluamos cómo los perfiles de los elementos de la práctica y los elementos del programa afectaron las mejoras en los resultados, y si estos efectos estuvieron moderados por las características de los subgrupos. Encontramos tres perfiles de elementos de la práctica (exploratorio/comprensivo, orientado a la acción y su combinación) que fueron igualmente eficaces. Con respecto a los elementos de los programas, los efectos mejoraron con el contacto telefónico más frecuente entre visitas y una intervisión más frecuente. La eficacia de los elementos de la práctica y de los programas varió según los subgrupos específicos de familias multiproblemáticas. Las variaciones en el contenido de la asistencia para las familias multiproblemáticas no afectan su eficacia, pero las variaciones en la estructura de la asistencia, sí. Estos resultados pueden ayudar a mejorar aún más las intervenciones eficaces.

Development of Therapist Adherence in Relation to Treatment Outcomes of Adolescents with Behavioral Problems.

Therapist adherence to the treatment manual is assumed to be crucial for adequate implementation and subsequent achievement of the intended, positive treatment outcomes. Although adherence has been mostly studied as a static factor, recent studies suggest that adherence might be dynamic and changes over time. We investigated how parent-perceived adherence to the multisystemic therapy (MST) model develops during treatment and how this development is related to treatment outcomes up to 18 months posttreatment, controlling for the effect of alliance. We used routinely collected data from 848 adolescents (66% male and 76% Western, M age = 15.25 years) and their caregivers participating in MST, a family- and community-based intervention for antisocial adolescents. Adherence and alliance were measured monthly through phone interviews with the caregivers using the Therapist Adherence Measure-Revised. Outcomes were assessed at the end of the treatment and at 18 months posttreatment using the scale Rule-Breaking Behavior of the Child Behavior Checklist and two MST Ultimate Outcomes (i.e., police contact and out-of-home placement). On average, adherence showed an increasing and then flattening slope. The initial level of adherence predicted treatment outcomes at the end of treatment but not at 18 months posttreatment. Change in adherence did not predict treatment outcomes after controlling for alliance. We advocate the need to consider the dynamic nature of adherence in research as well as clinical practice. Change in adherence during treatment, as well as its association with outcome, is likely to be dependent on the adherence measure being used.

It's not just the Therapist: Therapist and Country-Wide Experience Predict Therapist Adherence and Adolescent Outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Therapist adherence is a quality indicator in routine clinical care when evaluating the success of the implementation of an intervention. The current study investigated whether therapist adherence mediates the association between therapist, team, and country-wide experience (i.e. number of years since implementation in the country) on the one hand, and treatment outcome on the other hand. We replicated and extended a study by Löfholm et al. (2014). METHOD: Data over a 10-year period were obtained from 4290 adolescents (12-17 years) with antisocial or delinquent problem behavior, who were treated with Multisystemic Therapy (MST) by 222 therapists, working in 27 different teams in the Netherlands. Multilevel structural equation modeling was used to assess the associations between experience, therapist adherence, and post-treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Treatment outcomes were directly predicted by therapist experience, countrywide experience, and therapist adherence, but not by team experience. Moreover, therapist adherence mediated the association between therapist and country-wide experience, and treatment outcomes. The association between therapist experience and therapist adherence was not affected by the number of years of team experience or country-wide experience. CONCLUSION: The effect of country-wide experience on outcome may reflect increasing experience of training and supporting the therapists. It suggests that nation-wide quality control may relate to better therapist adherence and treatment outcome for adolescents treated with systemic therapy.

Alliance and adherence in a systemic therapy.

BACKGROUND: The client-therapist working alliance is a key contributor to effective adult psychotherapy. However, little is known about its role in family and systemic therapy. Moreover, few studies have assessed alliance longitudinally or have investigated how it interrelates with other process variables, such as therapist adherence (i.e. the extent to which the therapist adheres to the treatment protocol or manual). We hypothesised that alliance and adherence interrelate over the course of the therapy. METHOD: This study investigated the bidirectional associations between alliance and therapist adherence using cross-lagged panel analyses for a sample of 1970 adolescents and their families participating in Multisystemic Therapy (MST). A number of client characteristics were included as moderators, namely demographic characteristics, type and severity of adolescent problem behaviour, and whether or not the MST treatment was court ordered. Alliance and adherence were scored by the primary caregiver through telephone interviews at monthly intervals during treatment. RESULTS: Alliance in 1 month predicted therapist adherence in a subsequent month. Adherence only predicted subsequent alliance during the middle part of the treatment process. The results were not moderated by any of the client factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that alliance and therapist adherence may reinforce one another during therapy. Although alliance may facilitate the development of therapist adherence, adherence may subsequently deepen and consolidate the client-therapist alliance. These results are independent of client characteristics.

A Measure of the Parent-Team Alliance in Youth Residential Psychiatry: The Revised Short Working Alliance Inventory.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic alliance between multidisciplinary teams and parents within youth (semi) residential psychiatry is essential for the treatment process and forms a promising process variable for Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM). No short evaluative instrument, however, is currently available to assess parent-team alliance. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Version (WAV-12), a widely used alliance questionnaire, was adjusted to assess parent-team alliance from both a parent and team perspective within a youth residential setting. Psychometric properties, including factor structure and validity of the subscales, were explored. METHODS: A sample of youth with mainly complex developmental disorders admitted to 11 inpatient and day patient units of a child and adolescent psychiatric institute participated in this study. The case manager involved with the youth and the primary caregiver of 87 youth completed the revised WAV-12 (WAV-12R). RESULTS: The team version of the WAV-12R showed a good fit to the original conceptualized model, and distinguished Bond, Task and Goal scales. For the parents' version an adjusted model with Insight, Bond and combined Task/Goal scales had the best fit. The reliability and validity of the scales were shown to be good. CONCLUSIONS: This paper presents preliminary evidence that the parent and treatment team versions of the WAV-12R are psychometrically sound for assessing parent-team alliance within youth (semi) residential psychiatry in the Netherlands. The team and parents' versions of the WAV-12R are recommended instruments to complement outcome measures in ROM.

Linkages over time between adolescents' relationships with parents and friends.

This 5-wave longitudinal study examines linkages over time between adolescents' perceptions of relationships with parents and friends with respect to support, negative interaction, and power. A total of 575 early adolescents (54.1% boys) and 337 middle adolescents (43.3% boys) participated. Path analyses mainly showed bidirectional associations between adolescents' perceptions of parent-adolescent relationships and friendships with a predominantly stronger influence from parent-adolescent relationships to friendships than vice versa in early to middle adolescence and an equal mutual influence in middle to late adolescence. The findings support the theoretical ideas that perceptions of relationships with parents generalize to perceptions of relationships with friends and that relationship skills and principles of adolescent friendships generalize to relationships with parents. Furthermore, the results indicate that the influence of parents decreases, whereas the influence of friends increases, and that both social worlds become equally important and overlapping towards late adolescence.

Current and recollected perceptions of family relationships: the social relations model approach applied to members of three generations.

Data from 81 three-generation families (comprising 567 participants) were analyzed to assess perceptions of current-family and family-of-origin relationships. The dimensions studied (Restrictiveness, Justice, Affection, and Trust) were derived from the family systems theories as developed by Boszormenyi-Nagy (I. Boszormenyi-Nagy & B. R. Krasner, 1986; I. Boszormenyi-Nagy & G. Spark, 1984; I. Boszormenyi-Nagy & D. N. Ulrich, 1981) and Stierlin (H. Stierlin, 1974, 1978; H. Stierlin, I. Rucker-Embden, N. Wetzel, & M. Wirsching, 1980). The social relations model (SRM) was used to disentangle the perception scores into characteristics of the perceiver (actor component), the target (partner component), and the family as a whole. For both current-family and family-of-origin relationships, significant variances of actor as well as family components were found. Empirical evidence for an association between current-family and (mother's) family-of-origin components was only found on the dimension of Restrictiveness. Clear differences were found between the means of current-family and family-of-origin perceptions, which could be explained by differences between current and past SRM components.