The therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy for adolescent depression: Differences between treatment types and change over time.

Although the alliance is usually considered a generic factor common to all therapies, there are theoretical reasons suspect that it may develop differently in different types of therapies. Yet, youth psychotherapy, little known about this issue date. This study investigated whether mean strength alliance, as well its trajectory over time, differed between three equally effective psychological treatments for adolescent depression. Data were drawn from IMPACT study, randomized controlled trial comparing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy (STPP) versus brief psychosocial intervention (BPI) treatment Adolescents’ (N = 338) therapists’ (n 159) ratings collected using Working Alliance Inventory short form at 6, 12, 36 weeks after randomization. analyzed multilevel linear models. Results showed adolescents’ types, being highest CBT lowest STPP time points. Mean increased slightly arms, while stable BPI but group. These findings suggest differs type, future research required pinpoint what factors contribute these differences their relationship with outcomes.