Improving the therapeutic relationship in inpatient psychiatric care: Assessment of the therapeutic alliance and empathy after implementing evidence-based practices resulting from participatory action research

Moreno-Poyato, Antonio Rafael; Delgado-Hito, Pilar; Suárez-Pérez, Raquel; Lluch-Canut, Teresa; Roldán-Merino, Juan F.; Montesó-Curto, Pilar

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12238

Improving the therapeutic relationship in inpatient psychiatric care: Assessment of the therapeutic alliance and empathy after implementing evidence-based practices resulting from participatory action research

Citation

Moreno-Poyato AR, Delgado-Hito P, Suárez-Pérez R, Lluch-Canut T, Roldán-Merino JF, Montesó-Curto P. Improving the therapeutic relationship in inpatient psychiatric care: Assessment of the therapeutic alliance and empathy after implementing evidence-based practices resulting from participatory action research. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2018 Apr;54(2):300-8. DOI: 10.1111/ppc.12238

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine how evidence about the therapeutic alliance gleaned from participatory action project affected the level of this alliance and the degree of empathy of psychiatric nurses. DESIGN AND METHODS: Quasi-experimental study in two psychiatric units. In one group, evidence-based practices that affected the therapeutic alliance were implemented; in the comparison group, there was no such intervention. FINDINGS: The nurses from the intervention group improved their degree of empathy and factors such as agreement on objectives and tasks with the patient. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results confirm the possibility of measuring and improving the therapeutic relationship in psychiatric care.