After receiving training in Relationship Enhancement (RE) therapy, five marital therapists treated half their couples with RE and half by their own preferred non-RE method. After 10 weeks, participants (N=24) in both treatment conditions were posttested. Results showed participants receiving RE therapy made more gains on all measures used. (BH)

The present study examined the effect of a 10-session couple communication program developed by the researcher on passive conflict tendencies among married couples. The research was carried out with 28 married couples, 14 participants in the control group, and 14 participants in the experimental group. The design of the research was an…

Reanalyzed data from four previous studies (N=148) to examine the effectiveness of behavioral marital therapy (BMT). Results showed that slightly more than half the couples improved; about one-third actually became nondistressed. Deterioration was rare. (JAC)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treating depression with coping-oriented couples therapy (COCT) as compared with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT; A. T. Beck, C. Ward, & M. Mendelson, 1961) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT; M. M. Weissman, J. C. Markowitz, & G. L. Klerman, 2000). Sixty couples, including 1…

Reports an attempt to validate a self-help behavioral marital bibliotherapy program. Evaluated five clinical distressed couples via a multiple baseline analysis. Treatment involved reading and exercises covering communications, problem solving, and sexual dysfunction. Results were highly variable and reflected minimal change. (BH)

Twenty years of outcome research conducted on Relationship Enhancement (RE) couples and family therapy are reviewed. Studies testing RE with premarital and marital couples as well as special populations are included. Effect sizes are included to provide further information on the comparison of treatment to control groups. Implications for…

Nonbehavioral approaches to marital therapy have only recently become subject to empirical validation in contrast to extensively researched behavioral approaches. Behavioral marital therapy outcome research was examined as a reference point for evaluating the outcome studies of four nonbehavioral marital approaches: insight-oriented, cognitive,…

Evaluated couples (N=27) randomly assigned to conjoint or concurrent therapy to compare treatment effectiveness with regard to intrapersonal and interpersonal problems. Results showed no differences between the two treatments on any of the outcome measures. (LLL)

Describes a brief, eclectic, research-based program to enhance couples' relationships. Results indicate that couples receiving enrichment counseling (n=26) had higher relationship satisfaction and quality-of-couple skills at posttest and at the three-week follow-up than did written-assessment-only (control) couples (n=25). Concludes that the…

Investigated Caring Days procedure for marital therapy to determine its potential for positive change with nondistressed married couples. Randomly assigned 32 married couples to either experimental group employing Caring Days technique or to attention control group. Experimental group showed significant positive changes compared to control group…

Behavioral couples' therapy has a long history of success with couples and is an empirically validated treatment for marital discord (Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures, 1995). However, only about 50% of all couples in treatment experience long-term change (2 years). One of the founders of behavioral couples'…

Couples therapy interventions can be used with alcohol abusers and alcoholics during three broadly defined states of recovery: (1) initial commitment to change; (2) change itself; and (3) long-term maintenance of change. Intervening with the alcoholic's spouse (and/or other nonalcoholic family members) can motivate and reinforce commitment to…

Marriage and family therapy training clinic clients rated their therapist's skill level on several therapist variables including "experience,""confidence,""concern," and how well the treatment seemed to fit their view of the problem. Suggestions for using these results in supervision of beginning therapists are given.…

Presents a five-year follow-up investigation of former marital therapy clients. Conjoint and non-conjoint forms of marital therapy are compared to divorce rates and outcome. Findings indicate conjoint forms of marital therapy are superior to non-conjoint forms. (Author)

Four cases are presented to illustrate the clinical usefulness of a new, statistically validated, visual-verbal test to evaluate couple relationships at seven different stages of the life cycle. Results from this test can be correlated with dimensions measured with another instrument, allowing to evaluate whether any progress has taken place as a…