A Scale for Measuring Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP): First Psychometric Findings of a New Instrument for Monitoring Clients' Experiences (2024)

Dandachi-FitzGerald, B., Houben, S. T. L., Broers, N. J. (2024). A Scale for Measuring Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP): First Psychometric Findings of a New Instrument for Monitoring Clients' Experiences. , 31(3), Article e3014. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.3014

Dandachi-FitzGerald, Brechje ; Houben, Sanne T. L. ; Broers, Nick J. et al. / A Scale for Measuring Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP) : First Psychometric Findings of a New Instrument for Monitoring Clients' Experiences. In: . 2024 ; Vol. 31, No. 3.

@article{a352464f5c8646caa680d8c74ef5b6ad,

title = "A Scale for Measuring Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP): First Psychometric Findings of a New Instrument for Monitoring Clients' Experiences",

abstract = "BackgroundClients' adverse experiences during psychotherapy are rarely monitored in clinical practice or research trials. One obstacle here is the lack of a measure to gauge both positive and negative experiences during psychotherapy. We developed and evaluated a new instrument for measuring such experiences.MethodThe Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP) questionnaire was developed based on pilot data, a literature review, and two existing scales for measuring primarily adverse experiences during psychotherapy. Mental healthcare clients (N = 200) anonymously completed and evaluated the PNEP. Subsequently, a sample of professionals (N = 34) who underwent psychotherapy in the context of their training filled in the PNEP twice, with a 2-week interval in between.ResultsThe positive and negative experiences subscales of the PNEP were found to possess excellent internal consistencies (alpha s >= 0.90). The PNEP test-retest reliability was 0.93 for the positive experiences subscale and 0.78 for the negative experiences subscale. For the positive subscale, four factors were extracted: symptom reduction and positive well-being, high quality of therapy and therapeutic relation, personal growth and acceptance and interpersonal functioning. For the negative subscale, exploratory factor analysis suggested a three-factor solution: escalation of symptoms and emotional distress, low quality of therapy and therapeutic relation and (self-)stigmatization and dependency. Participants related a median of 13 positive and six negative therapy experiences to their most recent treatment. The most frequently endorsed negative experiences were having more negative thoughts and memories, feeling emotionally overwhelmed and an increase in stress due to the therapy. A minority of participants (10.5%) reported no negative treatment experiences.ConclusionsIn the field of psychotherapy, the evaluation of risks and benefits is crucial for assessing safety and effectiveness. The PNEP could be a promising instrument for achieving this objective, although further research is needed to replicate and expand upon the current findings.",

keywords = "adverse events, negative experiences, positive experiences, psychotherapy outcome, side effects, SAMPLE-SIZE, INTERVENTIONS, PREDICTORS, THERAPISTS, DISORDERS, HARMFUL, TRIALS, WORK",

author = "Brechje Dandachi-FitzGerald and Houben, {Sanne T. L.} and Broers, {Nick J.} and Harald Merckelbach",

year = "2024",

month = jun,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1002/cpp.3014",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

journal = "Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy",

issn = "1063-3995",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "3",

}

Dandachi-FitzGerald, B, Houben, STL, Broers, NJ 2024, 'A Scale for Measuring Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP): First Psychometric Findings of a New Instrument for Monitoring Clients' Experiences', , vol. 31, no. 3, e3014. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.3014

A Scale for Measuring Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP): First Psychometric Findings of a New Instrument for Monitoring Clients' Experiences. / Dandachi-FitzGerald, Brechje; Houben, Sanne T. L.; Broers, Nick J. et al.
In: , Vol. 31, No. 3, e3014, 05.06.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Scale for Measuring Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP)

T2 - First Psychometric Findings of a New Instrument for Monitoring Clients' Experiences

AU - Dandachi-FitzGerald, Brechje

AU - Houben, Sanne T. L.

AU - Broers, Nick J.

AU - Merckelbach, Harald

PY - 2024/6/5

Y1 - 2024/6/5

N2 - BackgroundClients' adverse experiences during psychotherapy are rarely monitored in clinical practice or research trials. One obstacle here is the lack of a measure to gauge both positive and negative experiences during psychotherapy. We developed and evaluated a new instrument for measuring such experiences.MethodThe Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP) questionnaire was developed based on pilot data, a literature review, and two existing scales for measuring primarily adverse experiences during psychotherapy. Mental healthcare clients (N = 200) anonymously completed and evaluated the PNEP. Subsequently, a sample of professionals (N = 34) who underwent psychotherapy in the context of their training filled in the PNEP twice, with a 2-week interval in between.ResultsThe positive and negative experiences subscales of the PNEP were found to possess excellent internal consistencies (alpha s >= 0.90). The PNEP test-retest reliability was 0.93 for the positive experiences subscale and 0.78 for the negative experiences subscale. For the positive subscale, four factors were extracted: symptom reduction and positive well-being, high quality of therapy and therapeutic relation, personal growth and acceptance and interpersonal functioning. For the negative subscale, exploratory factor analysis suggested a three-factor solution: escalation of symptoms and emotional distress, low quality of therapy and therapeutic relation and (self-)stigmatization and dependency. Participants related a median of 13 positive and six negative therapy experiences to their most recent treatment. The most frequently endorsed negative experiences were having more negative thoughts and memories, feeling emotionally overwhelmed and an increase in stress due to the therapy. A minority of participants (10.5%) reported no negative treatment experiences.ConclusionsIn the field of psychotherapy, the evaluation of risks and benefits is crucial for assessing safety and effectiveness. The PNEP could be a promising instrument for achieving this objective, although further research is needed to replicate and expand upon the current findings.

AB - BackgroundClients' adverse experiences during psychotherapy are rarely monitored in clinical practice or research trials. One obstacle here is the lack of a measure to gauge both positive and negative experiences during psychotherapy. We developed and evaluated a new instrument for measuring such experiences.MethodThe Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP) questionnaire was developed based on pilot data, a literature review, and two existing scales for measuring primarily adverse experiences during psychotherapy. Mental healthcare clients (N = 200) anonymously completed and evaluated the PNEP. Subsequently, a sample of professionals (N = 34) who underwent psychotherapy in the context of their training filled in the PNEP twice, with a 2-week interval in between.ResultsThe positive and negative experiences subscales of the PNEP were found to possess excellent internal consistencies (alpha s >= 0.90). The PNEP test-retest reliability was 0.93 for the positive experiences subscale and 0.78 for the negative experiences subscale. For the positive subscale, four factors were extracted: symptom reduction and positive well-being, high quality of therapy and therapeutic relation, personal growth and acceptance and interpersonal functioning. For the negative subscale, exploratory factor analysis suggested a three-factor solution: escalation of symptoms and emotional distress, low quality of therapy and therapeutic relation and (self-)stigmatization and dependency. Participants related a median of 13 positive and six negative therapy experiences to their most recent treatment. The most frequently endorsed negative experiences were having more negative thoughts and memories, feeling emotionally overwhelmed and an increase in stress due to the therapy. A minority of participants (10.5%) reported no negative treatment experiences.ConclusionsIn the field of psychotherapy, the evaluation of risks and benefits is crucial for assessing safety and effectiveness. The PNEP could be a promising instrument for achieving this objective, although further research is needed to replicate and expand upon the current findings.

KW - adverse events

KW - negative experiences

KW - positive experiences

KW - psychotherapy outcome

KW - side effects

KW - SAMPLE-SIZE

KW - INTERVENTIONS

KW - PREDICTORS

KW - THERAPISTS

KW - DISORDERS

KW - HARMFUL

KW - TRIALS

KW - WORK

U2 - 10.1002/cpp.3014

DO - 10.1002/cpp.3014

M3 - Article

SN - 1063-3995

VL - 31

JO - Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy

JF - Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy

IS - 3

M1 - e3014

ER -

Dandachi-FitzGerald B, Houben STL, Broers NJ, Merckelbach H. A Scale for Measuring Positive and Negative Experiences of Psychotherapy (PNEP): First Psychometric Findings of a New Instrument for Monitoring Clients' Experiences. . 2024 Jun 5;31(3):e3014. doi: 10.1002/cpp.3014