Focus on therapeutic alliance: The psychometric properties of six measuresacross three treatments

The psychometric properties of six measures of therapeutic alliance (Califo rnia Psychotherapy Alliance Scales; Penn Helping Alliance Rating Scale; Van derbilt Therapeutic Alliance Scale; and the Working Alliance Inventory-ther apist, client, and rater versions) were compared in a sample of substance-d ependent individuals participating in a randomized clinical trial of three psychotherapies. Internal consistency, interrater reliability, and intercor relations among the instruments were evaluated. Results supported the const ruct validity of the therapeutic alliance and indicated that all six measur es had acceptable reliabilities. Correlations between observer and particip ant measures were comparatively low. Reliabilities did vary, however, by tr eatment condition, suggesting that psychometric properties, and by extensio n alliance-process-outcome relationships, may vary across treatments.