An exploratory study of patients' sudden losses during outpatient CBT and therapists' experience of difficulties

Abstract

Objective: Patients' sudden deterioration in symptomatology, also called sudden losses, is a rarely explored phenomenon.

Method: Psychological distress of 1,763 patients treated by 140 therapists was monitored after every therapy session. Patient-reported outcome measures and patients' therapy satisfaction was assessed. Therapists rated their experience of difficulties for every patient repeatedly over the course of therapy.

Results: More than one-quarter of patients (26.5%) experienced at least one sudden loss during therapy. Patients with sudden losses did not differ significantly in psychotherapy outcome and therapy satisfaction from patients without sudden shifts. Therapists did not experience professional self-doubt more often when working with sudden loss patients.

Conclusion: Sudden losses were not necessarily harmful for the outcome of psychotherapy and patients' global therapy satisfaction. The results suggest that sudden losses can be compensated over the course of treatment.

Keywords: professional self-doubt; psychotherapy outcome; sudden gains; sudden losses; therapists’ experience.