What makes for good outcomes in solution-focused brief therapy? A follow-up study

Abstract

Introduction

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a strength-based and a social constructivist approach that assumes that individuals have the ability to develop creative solutions that enhance their lives to develop a new self, modify worldviews, and implement behaviour changes.

Objectives

To develop a quantitative research to determine which clinical variables and process variables are measured using the technique of judges and determine its statistical association with the outcome at termination of therapy and follow-up, using the videos of SFBT psychotherapy sessions, and a follow-up call.

Aims

To identify variables associated with outcome at termination and follow-up and to evaluate the success applying SFBT.

Methods

Sample was composed by 74 cases.

Criteria of inclusion

A telephone number available to make the follow follow-up call and at least 6 months since termination (6 months to 39 months, mean 15.6 months). Three questionnaire were used, The First-Session Rating Questionnaire, The Last-Session Ration Questionnaire and The Follow-up Questionnaire.

Results

Goals were reached 88% of the cases, patients said that complaint was totally resolved were 17% and 26% when the dropouts were excluded, and that complaint was partially resolved were 76% and 65% when the dropouts were excluded. According to the judges, the successful at termination was the 86%, and the successful at follow-up was 67% according to the Follow-Up Questionnaire. No variables were statistically associated to the successful at termination or the follow-up.

Conclusions

SFBT reaches the “minimum efficacy permitted” according to the general consensus of experts. Clinical of process variables was not associated to success.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.