Convergence in patient and therapist alliance ratings early in treatment with Personality Assessment Inventory clinical scales and subscales.

We examined discrepancies in 81 patient-therapist dyads' alliance ratings early in treatment (3rd or 4th session) in relation to Personality Assessment Inventory clinical scales, subscales and global psychopathology. Results indicated that PAI global psychopathology (mean clinical elevation) and the scales of Aggression [AGG], Somatization [SOM], and Anxiety-Related Disorders [ARD] were significantly, negatively associated with an absolute difference of patient and therapist alliance ratings at Session 3. Higher initial scores on these clinical scales at treatment onset are associated with less difference (i.e., more convergence) in patient/ therapist ratings of alliance at Session 3. Correlations between PAI clinical subscales and absolute differences of patient and therapist alliance ratings at Session 3 also demonstrated statistically significant inverse relationships for several PAI subscales of Aggression- Attitude [AGG-A], Aggression-Physical [AGG-P], Somatic- Health Concerns [SOM-H], Anxiety-Related Disorders-Traumatic Stress [ARD-T], Anxiety-Related Disorders- Obsessive Compulsive [ARD-O], Borderline Features-Affective Instability [BOR-A], Borderline- Self-Harm [BOR-S], Anxiety-Physiological [ANX-P], Depression-Physiological [DEP-P] and Antisocial-Stimulus Seeking [ANT-S]. Again, higher scores on these subscales at treatment onset are associated with less difference (i.e., more convergence) in patient/therapist ratings. We also examined group differences between patients rating alliance higher (Group 1) and therapists rating alliance higher (Group 2) and found that Group 1 had significantly lower scores on Mania-Activity Level [MAN-A]. Clinical implications of results are discussed.

Personality assessment inventory items in relation to patient- and therapist-rated alliance.

Based on the results of prior research, we examined relationships between Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) items on clinical scales of antisocial features (ANT) and anxiety-related disorders (ARD) with patient- and therapist-rated alliance early in treatment (third or fourth session). We also explored the relationship between the PAI treatment rejection scale (RXR) and early session therapist-rated alliance, despite null findings in previous work. We used PAI protocols from a clinical outpatient sample (N = 80). Data were analysed using backwards linear regressions. Results indicated that a group of ANT items from different ANT subscales predicted patient-rated therapeutic alliance, F(8,59) = 5.182, p = .000, R2 of .413, f2 = 0.70. Additionally, a group of ARD items from different ARD subscales significantly predicted therapist-rated alliance, F(6,62) = 3.007, p = .012, R2 of .225, f2 = 0.29. No significant relationships were found for RXR items and therapist-rated alliance, consistent with prior findings. Clinical implications are discussed.

Personality Assessment Inventory Clinical Scales in Relation to Patient and Therapist Rated Alliance Early in Treatment.

We examined relationships between the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) clinical scales (e.g., Somatic Complaints [SOM]) and subscales (e.g., Conversion [SOM-C]) with patient- and therapist-rated alliance early in treatment (third or fourth session). We also replicated and extended findings from a previous study examining PAI treatment scales (Treatment Rejection, Treatment Process Index) and early session therapist-rated alliance. We used PAI protocols from a clinical outpatient sample (N = 84). Data were analyzed using stepwise linear regressions. Results suggest that patients who report lower early session alliance also report more antisocial features (ß = -.219, p = .050, f2 = 0.05) specifically more antisocial behaviors (ß = -.315, p = .004, f2 = 0.11). Additionally, therapists report higher early session alliance with patients who report more anxiety-related disorders (ß = .274, p = .012, f2 = 0.08), specifically traumatic stress (ß = .325, p = .003, f2 = 0.12). No significant relationships were found between patient- or therapist-rated alliance and Treatment Rejection and Treatment Process Index, consistent with prior findings. Clinical implications are discussed.

How are expert therapists similar, different, and integrative in the treatment of borderline personality disorder?

This study examined the use of therapeutic skills by different, well-known experts in psychology who have published extensively on the treatment of borderline personality disorder to ascertain areas of technique similarity, difference, and integration. Initial videotaped sessions from these expert therapists working with the same patient were independently rated, using an established measure, on cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic-interpersonal techniques by 6 trained clinicians. These raters also independently identified what they believed were the most clinically significant segments of each session. The 6 raters demonstrated excellent levels of reliability. Results of this empirically based comparative process analysis suggest significant similarity, integration, and common focus across these 7 expert therapists in the specific techniques they used and in the themes and issues explored during the most clinically significant segments. All therapists took an active stance in exploring areas of clinical focus and initiating topics of discussion in this first meeting. Therapists tended to focus on the patient's pattern of romantic relationships ending abruptly and his lack of understanding why they ended, or his role in them ending. Almost all these segments included the therapist providing the patient with an alternative way to understand his experiences not previously recognized. Moreover, several of the therapists tended to both explore his irrational thoughts (e.g., all-or-nothing thinking, being incomplete without a partner) and relate perceptions of these relationships (e.g., being a victim, minimizing his anger/violence) to his interpersonal difficulties. Likewise, therapists often used the information gained from this process to provide psychoeducation regarding treatment approach and rationale. Finally, therapists would often return to key specific themes and issues that were clinically significant within the session in order to further explore and work through their meaning with the patient. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Behavioral Symptoms in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis: Relation to Fatigue and Cognitive Impairment.

The emotional and behavioral problems associated with pediatric multiple sclerosis remain unclear. Participants with pediatric multiple sclerosis or clinically isolated syndrome (n = 140; ages 5-18 years) completed self- and parent ratings using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition, neurologic exam, the Fatigue Severity Scale, and neuropsychological assessment. Mean self- and parent-ratings on the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition, were in the typical range across all scales. However, 33.1% indicated a clinically significant problem on a least 1 scale. Although the type of clinical problems varied across participants, attention problems, somatization, and anxiety were found to be most common. Disease features including duration, age of onset, neurologic disability, and fatigue did not distinguish those with and without clinical problems. However, cognitive functioning significantly predicted the presence of a clinical problem (P =02). Pediatric multiple sclerosis is associated with a range of nonspecific emotional and behavioral clinical problems, occurring more frequently in those patients with cognitive involvement.