Factors Influencing Treatment Effects
When a treatment is efficacious, psychotherapy research trials
point to four sources to explain the observed improvements: (a)
client factors, (b) therapist factors, (c) the so-called common
factors, and finally, (d) technique-specific factors. Client factors
represent the characteristics of the patient, such as personality
traits, temperament, motivation for treatment, or important life
events experienced by the patient during the course of therapy.
Therapist factors are the characteristics of the therapist, which can
include anything from gender, age, and education, to personal style
and appearance. Clinical training, competency, and skills in establishing
a therapeutic alliance and using therapeutic techniques are
of particular importance (Crits-Christoph et al., 1991). The two
latter components may also be denoted as common and techniquespecific
therapy factors, which influence the outcome of CBT