Therapeutic Alliance and Treatment Outcomes

A study examined the relationship of the therapeutic alliance to the treatment course and outcome of 143 patients with non-chronic schizophrenia.

Results showed that patients who formed good alliances with their therapists within the first 6 months of treatment were significantly more likely to:

• remain in psychotherapy
• comply with their prescribed medication regimens, and
• achieve better outcomes after 2 years, with less medication, than patients who did not.