Similarities and differences between retrospective and pre-post measurements of outcome

In past years, various theoretical conceptualizations of therapeutic outcome have been proposed. Differences based on pre-post and retrospective measurements were found (Michalak et al., 2003). In the current study, a sample of 263 patients completed seven questionnaires pre- and posttreatment or retrospectively. The results were examined with explorative and confirmative factor analyses. The authors found high intercorrelations and internal consistency over all seven questionnaires (Cronbach's alpha = .85). In confirmatory factor analyses, a three- factor model encompassing global retrospective, multi- item retrospective, and pre-post measures has the best fit indexes. Retrospective and pre-post measures are equally mood dependent at posttreatment measurements. Regression effects are observed only with pre-post measures.