The therapeutic alliance is a well–studied construct factor that is important to outcome in many forms of individual therapy. Therapeutic alliance has been rarely studied in group therapy and results in addiction treatment have been mixed. In this paper, we studied the presence of a therapeutic alliance in Network Therapy: an approach that uses peer and family support in addiction treatment. Twenty–one participants undergoing Network Therapy for cocaine addiction were observed on videotape, and were rated on therapeutic alliance using the Working Alliance Inventory and the Penn Helping Alliance Rating Scale. Results showed a significant positive correlation between therapeutic alliance and outcome as measured by the percentage of cocaine–free urine toxicology screens and by eight consecutive cocaine–free urines.
GreensonRR. 1967. Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis, New York: International University Press.
2.
HorvathAO and LuborskyL. 1993. The role of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy. J Consult Clin Psychol, 61: 561–573.
3.
HorvathAO and SymondsBD. 1991. Relation between working alliance and outcome in psychotherapy: A meta analysis. J Counsel Psychol, 38: 139–149.
4.
RaitD. 2000. The therapeutic alliance in couples and family therapy. J Clin Psychol, 6: 211–224.
5.
BeldingMA, IguchiMY, MorralAR and McLellanAT. 1997. Assessing Alcohol Dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 48: 51–59.
6.
TunisSL, DelucchiKL, SchwartzK and BanysP. 1996. The relationship of counselor and peer alliance to drug use and HIV risk behaviors in a six month methadone detoxification program. Addict Behav, 20: 395–405.
7.
WestreichLM, RosenthalRN and MuranJC. 1995. A preliminary study of therapeutic alliance and dually diagnosed inpatients. Am. J. Addict, 5: 81–86.
8.
BarberJP, LuborskyL, Crits–ChristophP, ThaseME, WeissR, FrankA, OnkenL and GallopR. 1999. Therapeutic alliance as a predictor of outcome in treatment of cocaine dependence. Psychother Res, 9: 54–73.
9.
ConnersGJ, CarollKM, DiClementeCC, LongabaughR and DonovanDM. 1997. The therapeutic alliance and its relationship to alcoholism treatment participation and outcome. J Counsel Clin Psychol, 65: 588–598.
10.
OojehagenA, BerglundM and HanssonL. 1997. The relationship between helping alliance and outcome in outpatient treatment of alcoholics: A comparative study of psychiatric treatment and multimodal behavioral therapy. Alcohol Alcohol, 32: 241–249.
11.
GalanterM, DermatisH, KellerD and TrujilloM. 2002. Network Therapy for cocaine abuse: Use of family and peer supports. Am J Addict, 11: 161–166.
12.
KellerDS, GalanterM and WeinbergS. 1997. Validation of a scale for Network Therapy: A technique for systemic use of peer and family support in addiction treatment. Am. J Drug Alcohol Abuse, 23: 115–127.
13.
JohnsonVE. 1986. Intervention: How to Help Someone Who Doesn't Want Help, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Johnson Institute Books.
14.
McCradyBS, StoutR and NoelN. 1991. Effectiveness of three types of spouse–involved behavioral alcoholism treatment. Br J Addict, 86: 1415–1424.
15.
KhantzianEJ. 1988. The primary care therapist and patient needs in substance abuse treatment. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse, 14: 159–167.
16.
MengisM, Maude–GriffinPM, DelucchiK and HallS. 2002. Alcohol use affects the outcome of treatment for cocaine abuse. Am J Addict, 36: 219–227.
17.
LuborskyL, Crits–ChristophP, AlexanderL, MargolisM and CohenM. 1983. Two helping alliance methods for predicting outcome of psychotherapy A counting signs vs. A global rating method. J Nerv Ment Dis, 171: 480–492.
18.
HorvathAO and GreenbergLS. 1989. The development and validation of the working alliance inventory. J Counsel Psychol, 36: 223–233.
19.
TichenorV and HillC. 1989. A comparison of six measures of working alliance. Psychotherapy, 26: 195–199.
20.
BordinE. 1979. The generalizability of the psychoanalytic concept of the working alliance. Psychother: Theory, Res Pract, 16: 252–260.
21.
CarrollKM, NichC and RousavilleB. 1997. Contribution of the therapeutic alliance to outcome in active versus control psychotherapies. J Counsel Clin Psychol, 65: 510–514.
22.
YalomID. 1985. The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 3rd edn., New York: Basic Books.
