Erfassung spezifischer kontrollerwartungen: Der fragebogen zu therapiebezogenen kontrollerwartungen (TBK)

Abstract

Background: Patients' control expectancies concerning their active participation in the psychotherapeutic process are believed to influence therapy outcome. This is particularly relevant in psychotherapies based on patients' active confrontation with their problems. According to the research literature, control expectancies tend to be very domain specific and only refer to the specific context under investigation. Still, to date there is no instrument to assess specific internal and external (based either on powerful others or on chance) control expectancies in a psychotherapeutic setting. This study presents the development of such an instrument. Patients and Methods: We have developed a Questionnaire on Control Expectancies in Psychotherapy (TBK) and evaluated its psychometric properties in a sample of 221 psychiatric outpatients. Results: Factor analyses confirmed the three dimensions that had been defined a priori. Correlations with Levenson's IPC (Internal, Powerful others, and Chance) and Schwarzer's Self-Efficacy Scale showed good concurrent validity. The internal scale consistencies varied between 0.77 and 0.81. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study the TBK can be considered as an economic self-rating instrument with good psychometric properties. It can be used to support the planning phase of psychotherapies. © 2006 S. Karger GmbH.