The Temporal Relation of Adherence and Alliance to Symptom Change in Cognitive Therapy for Depression

This study attempted to replicate an earlier study ( R. J. DeRubeis & M. Feeley, 1990 ) of the prediction of symptom change from process variables in cognitive therapy for depressed outpatients. Measures of in-session therapist behavior and therapist-patient interactions were correlated with prior and subsequent symptom change. One of the positive findings was confirmed, but the other received only marginal support. A "concrete" subset of theory-specified therapist actions, measured early in treatment, predicted subsequent change in depression. The therapeutic alliance was predicted by prior symptom change in 1 of the 2 later assessments, but only at a trend level. Several negative findings were similar to those obtained in the earlier study. Specifically, the alliance, an "abstract" subset of theory-specified therapist actions, and facilitative conditions did not predict subsequent change. Implications for causal inferences in psychotherapy process research are discussed.