Clinical factors and early life experiences associated with therapeutic alliance development in treatment for depression or binge eating.

Objective: This study examines childhood and clinical factors theorized to impact therapeutic alliance development over the course of psychotherapy.

Method: Raters assessed the therapeutic alliance of 212 client-therapist dyads, participating in two randomized controlled trials of schema therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy for binge eating or major depression, at three time points. Linear mixed models were used to characterize therapeutic alliance development over time and assess the influence of childhood trauma, perceived parental bonding, diagnosis and therapy type on scores.