Abstract
The present study was an attempt to examine the rating bias of therapists participating in an evaluation of an experimental quality assurance, system at a community mental health center. The test program was intended to identify patients who demonstrated lack of progress or poor level of functioning after two months of treatment, and to employ a clinical assessment process by independent clinicians to evaluate problems in the quality of care.
It was believed that the therapists knowledge that they might have their clinical work-assessed would lead to biased ratings of more severe symptomatology in their patients. The results of this study partially supported the hypothesis., Patients in the peer review system were rated as more dysfunctional at admission on Psychological Functioning than patients in the control groups. No differences, however, were, found on Basic Life Functioning, Anti-Social Behavior, or Mental Processes. The implications for these results relative to psychotherapy research, quality assurance, and program evaluation are discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bednar, R., & Shapiro, J. Professional research commitment: A symptom or a syndrome?.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 34, 1970, 323–326.
Berg, I. Measures before and after therapy.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 8, 1952, 46–50.
Berman, L. Counter-transfereece and attitudes, of the analysis in the therapeutic process. In M. Cohen (Ed).Advances in Psychiatry. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1959.
Carter, D.E & Newman, F.L.A Client-Oriented System of Mental Health Service Delivery and Program Management: A Workbook and Guide, NIMH Series EN No. 4. Washington, D.C., GPO, 1976.
Cutler, R. Counter-transference effects in psychotherapy.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 22, 1958, 349–356.
Dailey, C. The effect of premature conclusion upon the acquisition of understanding a person.Journal of Psychology, 32, 1952, 133–152.
Edwards, M., McGuirk, F., & Wilson, N. The Fort Logan problem screen and level of functioning instrument. Paper presented at the Annual American Psychological Association Conference, Toronton, 1978.
Ellis, R. Colorado level of functioning scale. Unpublished report, Colorado Division of Mental Health Statistical Analysis and Research Section, Denver, 1977.
Ellis, R., Wilson, N., and Foster, F. Statewide treatment outcome assessment in Colorado: The Colorado Client Assessment Record (CCAR).Community Mental Health Journal, 20, 1984, 72–89.
Epstein, L., & Feiner, A. (Eds.)Counter-transference. New York: Jacob Aronson, 1979.
Page, S., & Yates, E. Fear of evaluation and reluctance to participate in research.Professional Psychology, 5, 1974, 400–408.
Parloff, M., Kelman, H., & Frank, J. Comfort, effectiveness, and self-awareness of criteria of improvement in psychotherapy.American Journal of Psychiatry, 111, 1954, 343–352.
Reich, A. On counter-transference,International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 32, 1951, 25–31.
Rosenberg, M. The conditions and consequences of evaluation apprehension. In: R. Rosenthal & R. Rosnow (Eds.),Artifact, in Behavioral Research. New York: Academic Press, 1969, 279–349.
Rosenthal, R.Experimental Artifacts in Behavioral Research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1966.
Rosenthal, R., & Rosnow, R. (Eds.),Artifact in Behavioral Research. New York: Academic Press, 1969.
Searles, H.,Counter-transference and Related Subjects New York: International Universities, 1979.
Stahler, G.An Assessment of Therapist Rating Bias and the Hawthorne Effect in a Program Evaluation. Doctoral dissertation, Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1982.
Steinhalber, J. Bias in the assessment of psychotherapy.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 34, 1970. 37–42.
Sullivan, H.Personal Psychopathology, Washington, D.C.: William Alanson White Psychiatric Foundation, 1965 (unpublished).
Tash, W., and Stahler G., The history and current status of mental health quality assurance.American Behavioral Scienctist, Spring, 1984.
Tash, W., Stahler, G., & Rappaport, H. Evaluating quality assurance programs. In: G. Stahler and W. Tash (Eds.),Innovative Approaches to Mental Health Evaluation. New York: Academic Press, 1982, 113–138
Ward, C. and Richards, J. Psychotherapy research: inertia, recruitment, and national policy.American Journal of Psychiatry 124, 1968, 1712–1714.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stahler, G.J., Rappaport, H. Do therapists bias their ratings of patient functioning under peer review?. Community Ment Health J 22, 265–274 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754380
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754380