Do early responders to psychotherapy maintain treatment gains?

This study examined early positive response to psychotherapy in a sample of 147 college student clients seeking therapy at a university counseling center. Early response was determined based on a score representing the difference between client-obtained symptom distress session scores and expected scores derived from a large actuarial study of typical treatment response. In the present study, early positive response to therapy was associated with fewer psychological symptoms at therapy termination and follow-up and maintenance of therapy gains. These results are discussed in relation to placebo effects and common factors and their primary importance in producing meaningful change. Future research directions are recommended that include the use of early response for exploring the contribution of client variables and theoretically derived interventions as they relate to the outcome of psychotherapy.