View clinical trials related to Therapeutic Alliance.
Filter by:This study aims to inform scientific understanding of the impact of the therapeutic alliance and the transition from inpatient to outpatient care.
An increased interest of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) can be observed within clinical practice, even though it is still not entirely clear how the presence of an animal contributes to the outcome of a treatment. One theory maintains that the mere presence of an animal influences the therapeutic alliance between therapist and client. However, results from a recent study suggest that a relationship between patient and health-provider alone is not sufficient to influence treatment outcomes, but that a therapeutic rationale is needed and that verbal instructions and suggestions are highly important in shaping participants' treatment expectations. To investigate this theory, this study will combine AAI with a placebo intervention, as placebo interventions offer the basic form of intervention working through relationship and expectancy. The effects of the presence of a dog will be assessed with a standardized experimental heat pain paradigm (TSA-II) in a randomized controlled trial in healthy participants (N=128). After a baseline measurements of heat pain threshold and tolerance, participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following four conditions: a) placebo intervention , no dog present, b) placebo intervention, dog present, c) no placebo intervention, no dog present and d) no placebo intervention, dog present. The dog will be introduced after randomization. Expectancy will be induced by telling participants that the contact to an animal increases the oxytocin level, which has an non inflammatory effect. The placebo intervention will be a deceptive cream which is said to helps against pain. Afterwards, posttreatment measurements will be conducted and participants fill in questionnaires about their perceptions of the experimenter.
This study evaluates a professional development program intended to improve the relationship or alliance between therapists and patients/clients who are receiving psychotherapy in the community. Half of the participating therapists will receive training to detect and improve alliance with new patients while half will not. The professional development training is expected to improve therapists effectiveness in identifying and correcting alliance tensions which will, in turn, improve therapeutic outcomes for patients/clients.