Time-Limited Brief Therapy with Families: A One-Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Families from a previously reported study of time-limited brief treatment were followed up one year after termination. Results based on questionnaires completed by the parents provide no evidence for deterioration after termination for families that had received six-session time-limited therapy, twelve-session time-limited therapy, or treatment without time limits. At one year, there were no significant differences in outcome between time-limited and unlimited approaches, between six-session and twelve-session treatment, or between treated families and a waiting list control group (most of whom had entered therapy by this time). As in the original study, the results do not support claims of increased therapeutic effectiveness for time and session limits. However, time limits did succeed in shortening treatment without significantly reducing its effectiveness or the durability of outcome.