Interventions for couples

A substantial body of empirical research has documented both the promise an d the shortcomings of psychological interventions for preventing or amelior ating marital distress. Couple therapy reduces relationship distress and ma y affect individual psychopathology, such as depression. However, some coup les are unresponsive and others improve but relapse later. Interventions to prevent marital distress usually produce short-term changes in behavior an d relationship satisfaction, but little evidence exists demonstrating a lon ger-term prevention effect. Furthermore, these interventions have yet to be examined on a diverse population of couples or with a diverse set of outco me criteria (e.g. effects on children). Concern about the negative impact o f marital discord and divorce will continue to provide the impetus for rese arch on more effective means of intervening with couples. Future research c ould benefit from a focus on a more diverse population of couples, treatmen t in natural settings, the development of more powerful interventions, and the examination of those interventions over longer periods of time and with more comprehensive outcome measures.