Group Alliance and Cohesion as Predictors of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Outcomes

Abstract

Abstract Although the alliance between therapist and client in individual therapy is generally considered a significant predictor of treatment success, little is known about how alliance in group therapy affects outcome. We assessed the relationship between group alliance, as measured by the Group Therapy Alliance Scale (GTAS), and group cohesion, as measured by the cohesion scale of the Group Atmosphere Scale (GAS-C) and therapy outcome. Clients were 49 men attending group therapy 3 times per week in a 21-day intensive, residential substance abuse treatment program. Outcome was determined at 30 days after discharge. Although GTAS and GAS-C scores were significantly correlated (r = .66), only group alliance was predictive of client ratings of reduced psychological distress. Neither group alliance nor cohesion was significantly associated with decreased consequences of drug and alcohol use or depressive symptomology.