What "good outcome" means to patients: Understanding recovery and improvement in psychotherapy for major depression from a mixed-methods perspective

Melissa Miléna De Smet*, Reitske Meganck, Rosa De Geest, Ufuoma Angelica Norman, Femke Truijens, Mattias Desmet

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)
310 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study explored the meaning of "good outcome" within and beyond the much-used statistical indices of clinical significance in standard outcome research as developed by Jacobson and Truax (1991). Specifically, we examined the experiences of patients marked as "recovered" and "improved" following cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy for major depression. A mixed-methods study was conducted using data gathered in an RCT, including patients' pre-post outcome scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-II and posttreatment client change interviews. We selected 28 patients who showed recovery and 19 patients who showed improvement in self-reported depression symptoms. A grounded theory analysis was performed on patients' interviews, ultimately resulting in a conceptual model of "good outcome." From patients' perspectives, good outcome can be understood as feeling empowered, finding personal balance and encountering ongoing struggle, indicating an ongoing process and variation in experience. The Jacobson-Truax classification of "good outcome" could not account for the (more pessimistic) nuances in outcome experiences, especially for "improved" patients, and did not grasp the multidimensional nature of outcome as experienced by patients. It is recommended that statistical indications of clinical meaningfulness are interpreted warily and ideally contextualized within personal narratives. Further research on the phenomenon of change and good outcome is required, aiming at integrating multiple perspectives and methods accordingly the multidimensional phenomenon under study.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-39
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Counseling Psychology
Volume67
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Psychological Association.

Research programs

  • ESSB PSY

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