Suitability for Short-Term Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

The Suitability for Short-Term Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale (SRS) defines 10 criteria to assess suitability for short-term cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This study examines the relationships between pretreatment SRS scores and outcome of 113 patients treated with short-term CBT for a wide range of disorders. Using the reliable change index (RCI) as a measure of outcome, 65 individuals (57.5%) of the sample experienced statistically reliable improvement. Married status, employed status, female gender, and anxiety disorder as a primary diagnosis were positively correlated with posttreatment RCI. Awareness of emotion and security operations were the SRS items most strongly correlated with outcome. Also correlated were the two alliance potential items (in-session and out-of-session evidence) and the acceptance of personal responsibility for change. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis resulted in a three-variable model where married status, primary anxiety disorder, and mean SRS score accounted for 20% of the variance in RCI scores. We conclude that the SRS adds predictive value to the assessment of potential to succeed in CBT.