Towards a taxonomy of common factors in psychotherapy-results of an expert survey

Tschacher, Wolfgang; Junghan, Ulrich Martin; Pfammatter, Mario (2014). Towards a taxonomy of common factors in psychotherapy-results of an expert survey. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 21(1), pp. 82-96. Wiley-Blackwell 10.1002/cpp.1822

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BACKGROUND:

How change comes about is hotly debated in psychotherapy research. One camp considers 'non-specific' or 'common factors', shared by different therapy approaches, as essential, whereas researchers of the other camp consider specific techniques as the essential ingredients of change. This controversy, however, suffers from unclear terminology and logical inconsistencies. The Taxonomy Project therefore aims at contributing to the definition and conceptualization of common factors of psychotherapy by analyzing their differential associations to standard techniques.

METHODS:

A review identified 22 common factors discussed in psychotherapy research literature. We conducted a survey, in which 68 psychotherapy experts assessed how common factors are implemented by specific techniques. Using hierarchical linear models, we predicted each common factor by techniques and by experts' age, gender and allegiance to a therapy orientation.

RESULTS:

Common factors differed largely in their relevance for technique implementation. Patient engagement, Affective experiencing and Therapeutic alliance were judged most relevant. Common factors also differed with respect to how well they could be explained by the set of techniques. We present detailed profiles of all common factors by the (positively or negatively) associated techniques. There were indications of a biased taxonomy not covering the embodiment of psychotherapy (expressed by body-centred techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback training and hypnosis). Likewise, common factors did not adequately represent effective psychodynamic and systemic techniques.

CONCLUSION:

This taxonomic endeavour is a step towards a clarification of important core constructs of psychotherapy.

KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE:

This article relates standard techniques of psychotherapy (well known to practising therapists) to the change factors/change mechanisms discussed in psychotherapy theory. It gives a short review of the current debate on the mechanisms by which psychotherapy works. We provide detailed profiles of change mechanisms and how they may be generated by practice techniques.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy > Psychotherapy

UniBE Contributor:

Tschacher, Wolfgang, Pfammatter, Mario

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1063-3995

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Language:

English

Submitter:

Daniela Zurkinden

Date Deposited:

20 Aug 2014 11:19

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:32

Publisher DOI:

10.1002/cpp.1822

PubMed ID:

23129553

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Change Mechanism, Common Factors, Psychotherapy Techniques, Theory of Psychotherapy, Therapy Process

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.48365

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/48365

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