The efficacy of emotionally focused couples therapy and behavioral couples therapy: A meta-analysis.

Rathgeber, Maren; Bürkner, Paul Christian; Schiller, Eva-Maria; Holling, Heinz

Abstract

Behavioral couple therapy (BCT) and emotionally focused couples therapy (EFCT) are well-established treatments to reduce couple distress. This meta-analysis summarizes the current state of knowledge on the efficacy of these two therapy methods by focusing on randomized controlled trials only. A literature search revealed 33 suitable primary studies (2,730 participants in total), all of them measuring relationship satisfaction. Robust-variance random-effects meta-analysis revealed medium effect sizes at post-test (overall: g = 0.60; BCT: g = 0.53; EFCT: g = 0.73) and small effect sizes of 6 months after treatment (overall: g = 0.44; BCT: g = 0.35; EFCT: g = 0.66), but these gains were not maintained after 12 months (BCT only: g = 0.06). Between the two therapy methods, no significant effect size differences could be found. Results have to be interpreted with caution due to potential publication bias.