Outcome Expectations in Psychotherapy: Validation of the Therapy Single Category Implicit Association Test (Therapy SC-IAT)

Abstract Background Former studies demonstrated that negative outcome expectations (OE) toward psychotherapy predict unfavorable outcomes. Critically, the measurement of OE is limited to direct measures could be subject self-presentational distortions. This study aimed validate an online single category implicit association test (SC-IAT) measure indirectly. Methods We conducted three OE, Therapy SC-IAT, and a (control) Flower SC-IAT in large sample ( N = 705). Results The correlated with most (convergent validity) but not flower associations (discriminant validity). In exploratory analyses, we found indirect measurements were related prior experiences psychotherapy. Conclusion discuss ways improve indirect-direct correlations suggest our newly developed complement assessment research clinical practice.