Patients with higher pre-treatment self-esteem perform better on outcome measures compared to individuals with lower self-esteem. Low self-esteem groups perform better with respect to depression improvement. Similar results are found when high self-esteem patients complete treatment in low self-esteem groups. The study was a retrospective examination of patients’ data and not a manipulation study; therefore, cause and effect relationships were not able to be determined.
The generalizability of the finding to patients in other health settings remains to be determined.