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Behavioural Marital Therapy: Current Status, Limitations, and Directions for Further Research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Kim Halford  and
Matt Sanders
Kim Halford*
Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Matt Sanders
Affiliation:
University of Queensland
*
Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, Clinical Sciences Building, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Qld, 4029, Australia
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Abstract

Behavioural marital therapy (BMT) is a promising approach to the pervasive concern of lack of marital satisfaction. BMT produces gains in marital satisfaction which are statistically significantly superior to no treatment controls. However when more stringent criteria for success are applied, which are of greater clinical relevance, success rates are moderate. It is argued the limitations of BMT efficacy may be due to three faults in the current conceptualization and practice of BMT. Firstly, while some recognition of the role of cognitions has been made, the salient cognitions of distressed couples have not been clearly described in specific social contexts. Secondly, the cognitive interventions used do not relate clearly to identified maladaptive cognitions. Finally, the generalization of therapeutic effects has been assessed insufficiently, and generalization has not been programmed into therapeutic procedures. Specific suggestions are offered which may help to help overcome these problems.

Type
Articles
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , March 1985 , pp. 36 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1985

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References

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