The common core of therapy
 The common core of therapy

Dodo birdEffectiveness bank home page. Opens new window Collection
The common core of therapy

Across mental health and behavioural problems, ‘Dodo bird’ findings that bona fide therapies have similar effects have turned attention to the ‘common factors’ they share rather than how they differ. A collection specially catalogued to explore this important issue starting with the analyses most recently added or updated, totalling today 82 documents.

Click blue titles to view full text in a new window
Use the selectors at the bottom to turn to the next page in the list of documents



STUDY 1977 HTM file
Effect of counselor expectations on alcoholic recovery

Could negativity about the recovery chances of disadvantaged drinkers become self-fulfilling prophecies? This hidden gem study from the late ’70s suggests they can, and that bolstering counsellors’ expectations promotes commitment to treatment and recovery among the least promising of clients.

MATRIX CELL 2021 HTM file
Alcohol Treatment Matrix cell B5: Practitioners; Safeguarding the community

Key studies on the impact of the treatment practitioner on safeguarding the community, families and children, and their influence in criminal justice contexts. Explores whether exceptional abilities are needed to forge productive therapeutic relationships in these situations, and invites you to ‘stress test’ a proposed universal rule: The trickier the situation, the more the worker matters.

MATRIX CELL 2020 HTM file
Alcohol Treatment Matrix cell A4: Interventions; Psychosocial therapies

Key studies on the ‘common factors’ underlying psychosocial therapies for problem drinking and the effectiveness of specific approaches. Explores the famous ‘Dodo bird’ hypothesis that all bona fide therapies are equivalent, examines the legacy of the UK’s most ambitious treatment trial, asks whether therapy can really make things worse, and questions how research amalgamating impacts from many patients can be applied to the treatment of an individual in their individual circumstances.

MATRIX CELL 2019 HTM file
Alcohol Treatment Matrix cell B2: Practitioners; Generic and cross-cutting issues

At the front line the practitioner is to the patient the face of treatment. They can matter enormously – not so much in their formal credentials, but their manner with patients. Tour seminal and key studies which probe the heart of addiction treatment: relationships. See the remaining four cells in row 2 of the matrix for more on generic features of medical and psychosocial therapies.

MATRIX CELL 2020 HTM file
Alcohol Treatment Matrix cell A2: Interventions; Generic and cross-cutting issues

Seminal and key studies on aspects of the treatment of problem drinking relevant both to psychosocial and medical approaches. Focuses on ‘common factors’ often sidelined as components of the ‘placebo effect’, but which are actually active ingredients now recognised as at least as important as the particular therapy. See the remaining four cells in row 2 of the matrix for more on generic features of medical and psychosocial therapies.

MATRIX CELL 2018 HTM file
Drug Treatment Matrix cell D2: Organisational functioning: Generic and cross-cutting issues

Key studies on the how the characteristics and functioning of treatment organisations affect implementation and effectiveness. Learn to see the organisational context as part of the treatment, about two evidence-based US quality improvement resources, and consider what makes treatment services engaging and whether they should extend that engagement into long-term continuing care. See the remaining four cells in row 2 of the matrix for more on generic features of medical and psychosocial therapies.

REVIEW 2018 HTM file
Psychotherapy relationships that work III

Research findings amalgamated in 16 reviews for an American Psychological Association task force led them to authoritatively assess many dimensions of the client–psychotherapist relationship as important determinants of patients’ progress. “The relationship can heal,” is the overall conclusion – one likely to be highly relevant to recovery from addiction.

REVIEW 2018 HTM file
The real relationship and its role in psychotherapy outcome: a meta-analysis

Findings amalgamated for the American Psychological Association indicate that patient progress and treatment quality are strongly related to the strength of the personal (‘real’) relationship between client and therapist – more strongly than the working relationship focused on the therapy. Showing that you like, value and care for someone may be therapeutic in itself.

REVIEW 2018 HTM file
The alliance in adult psychotherapy: a meta-analytic synthesis

Comprehensive review for the American Psychological Association concludes that the working relationship between clients and their counsellors or therapists is one of the largest and most consistent determinants of outcomes. Practice recommendations aim to help practitioners foster strong relationships.

REVIEW 2018 HTM file
Meta-analysis of the alliance–outcome relation in couple and family therapy

Amalgamation and review of research findings commissioned by the American Psychological Association reveals that working relationships in couple and family therapies are at least as important as in individual therapies. Practice recommendations will help therapists develop these relationships, augmenting the impacts of some of the most effective ways to treat substance use problems.


Select search results page

NEXT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9