Aim 12

This project involved the audiotaping of therapy sessions with depressed and suicidal adolescents on a previously funded grant. Each adolescent received 12 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy, and tapes of these sessions have continued to be coded for aspects of the therapeutic alliance. Previous lab members developed a coding method, the Alliance Observation Rating System, that research assistants and other lab members are trained in to code segments of therapy sessions for predictors of the therapeutic alliance and outcome variables.

This study's principal goal is to develop an observational measure of adolescent therapeutic alliance and treatment participation to evaluate how these factors relate to participation, continuation, and treatment outcomes. Currently, most of the therapeutic alliance literature has focused on adults, and the principles of adolescent alliance were taken from adult findings. This study identifies the need for a measure of adolescent and child alliance that considers developmental changes unique to younger individuals.

Orlowski, E. W., Chen, J. I., Breznik, L. H., Gleason, L. D. L., & Karver, M. S. (2024). Psychotherapist perceptions of engagement‐building behaviors with youth clients across developmental levels. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 31(1), e2962. 

Orlowski III, E. W., Bender, A. M., & Karver, M. S. (2023). A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinician behaviors and characteristics related to alliance building with youth clients. Clinical Psychology Review, 102, 102273.

Totura, C. M. W., Fields, S. A., & Karver, M. S. (2018). The role of the therapeutic relationship in psychopharmacological treatment outcomes: a meta-analytic review. Psychiatric Services, 69(1), 41-47.