The sample and therapy provided were somewhat different
than couple therapy efficacy studies, which might limit the generalisability
of findings. As distinct from most couple therapy efficacy studies, the current study included a substantial proportion of
couples who were not clinically distressed at the start of therapy,
despite all couples being referred for couple therapy. However, the
predictability of eventually benefiting from therapy from on-track
status was similar for the whole sample and just the clinically
distressed couples in the sample. The couple therapy offered in the
current study was brief relative to that reported in many efficacy
trials, and the effect size of about d = 0.45 was smaller than the
mean of d = 0.82 reported across efficacy trials. However, the mean number of therapy sessions
completed, and the effect size in the current study were similar or
larger than that reported in previous effectiveness trials of couple
therapy in community settings.