Mannarini, S., Boffo, M., & Balottin, L.
Beliefs about the patient’s role in the psychotherapeutic relationship: A latent trait perspective
The present research aimed to define a latent measurement dimension underlying personal beliefs about the psychotherapeutic relationship. In Study 1, 927 university students completed a newly devised 40-item questionnaire. A latent trait modeling approach was used, by applying the Many-Facet Rasch Measurement model (MFRM). In Study 2, 237 participants, presenting different levels of mental health expertise, completed the defined instrument and the Mental Disorders Causal Beliefs (MDCB) scale. A second MFRM analysis was performed along with a bias/interaction analysis. The main results evidenced a 27-item measure denominated Mental Disorders Therapy Relationship (MDTR); several MDTR item contents differed in relation to the professional expertise level and the MDCB aetiological beliefs, emphasizing either the active, balanced, or passive patient’s role.
