Patients' perceptions of the therapeutic relationship and group therapy outcome

The authors review the empirical literature examining the hypothesized relationship between the patient's perception of the therapeutic relationship and treatment outcome in group therapy and describe studies of both inpatient and outpatient group therapy. Their review indicates that, in contrast to the overwhelming evidence in support of the perceived relationship-outcome hypothesis in individual psychotherapy, there is no persuasive evidence in favor of the proposed relationship between the therapist-patient relationship and the efficacy of group treatment. The authors discuss the clinical and theoretical differences between individual and group therapy that would contribute to this result.