Patient progress during two time-limited psychotherapies as measured by the Rutgers psychotherapy progress scale

The authors tracked patient progress in two cases of time-limited psychotherapy using the Rutgers Psychotherapy Progress Scale (RPPS; Spillman, 1991), which assesses in-session progress in psychodynamic therapy on six different dimensions. Two judges rated the transcripts of two female patients who were selected from the Jerusalem Short-Term Project (Shefler, Dasberg, & Ben Shakhar, 1995). The patients were treated by the same therapist, one with a successful outcome and the other with an unsuccessful outcome. Results showed that the patients differed in three dimensions on the global ratings: Collaboration, clarity and vividness of speech, and emergence of significant material. The patient with the successful outcome became rapidly involved in treatment, and her RPPS scores continued to increase significantly throughout treatment. The patient with the unsuccessful outcome did not engage rapidly in treatment, and her RPPS scores dropped in the middle phase of therapy and picked up only toward termination. These results support Mann and Goldman's (1982) definition of therapy phases and also emphasize the importance of rapid engagement and involvement in successful time-limited psychotherapy.