A randomized trial of emotion-focused therapy for couples in a training clinic

Forty married couples participated in a randomized trial comparing 8 weekly sessions of emotion-focused therapy (EFT)for couples to a group of couples who were placed on an 8-week waiting list. A composite marital satisfactio n score was created from scores on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale Positive Fee lings questionnaire, and Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships s cale. Controlling for pretest scores, participants in the treatment group h ad significantly higher levels of marital satisfaction after 8 weeks than w ait-list participants. Supplementary analyses identified variables associat ed with gains in therapy and with dropping out of the study.