Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the role and validity of the Treatment Rejection Scale (RXR), one of the treatment consideration scales on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991), and its relationship with treatment variables in an outpatient clinical setting. The study used archival data involving 200 client files. The current study evaluated RXR scores in relation to premature, situational, and mutual terminators. Therapist-rated process variables, such as client cancellations, the number of sessions attended, client “no-shows,” and any barriers to completing treatment from the clinician’s point of view, were also considered. Additionally, the treatment outcome variable, in the form of symptom change as measured by the final Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI; Derogatis, 1993) Global Distress score (GSI), was examined in relation to RXR scores. An ANOVA showed no significant differences in RXR scores for premature, mutual, or situational terminators on RXR scores F (2, 144) = 1.65, p = 0.196. RXR scores were not significantly correlated with clinician ratings of barriers to treatment r = -0.001, p = 0.98, number of sessions attended r = -0.02, p = 0.76, client cancellations r = -0.09, p = 0.27, or no-shows r = -0.12, p = 0.14. Finally, RXR scores were significantly negatively correlated with discharge BSI/GSI scores (r = -0.23, p = 0.035), indicating that a relationship exists between overall symptom change in a manner that is inconsistent with what the RXR scale was designed to predict. These findings suggest that more research is needed regarding the inconsistencies involving the RXR scale and how helpful it may be to clinicians in an outpatient clinical setting.

Year manuscript completed

2025

Year degree awarded

2025

Degree Awarded

Master of Science

Department

Psychology

College/School

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

Dissertation Committee Chair

Laura Liljequist

Thesis Advisor

Laura Liljequist

Committee Chair

Patrick Cushen

Committee Member

Esther Malm

Committee Member

Jennifer Gaylord

Document Type

Thesis

Download

Share

COinS