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Dissertation
Effects of privileged communications law on perceived willingness to disclose in psychotherapy
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
Dec 2001
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009484
Abstract
In June 1996, the United States Supreme Court recognized the federal psychotherapist-patient privilege (Jaffee v. Redmond, 1996), holding that a law enforcement officer's statements to her therapist during sessions were protected from compelled disclosure under Federal Rule of Evidence 501. The Court also extended the privilege to psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. Resolving disagreement among the federal circuit courts of appeal, the decision set new precedent and therefore, is of significance to legal and mental health professionals. Prior to Jaffee, few studies had examined the effects of personal characteristics on willingness to disclose sensitive information in psychotherapy. This study explored the relationships between the dependent variables (individuals' predictions about willingness to disclose in therapy in five scenarios), two independent variables (privilege condition and therapy experience), and eight proposed covariates (age, education, gender, race and four dimensions of general disclosiveness-amount, honesty, intent and depth). Scenarios involved the following: (1) a suicidal patient, (2) a gravely disabled patient, (3) a physically abusive patient, (4) a sexually abusive patient, and (5) a police officer-patient who shot a suspect. One-hundred twenty-nine subjects completed survey packets consisting of a consent form, the General Disclosiveness Scales (GDS), The Willingness to Self-Disclose Questionnaire (WSDQ), and a demographic data form. Subjects were systematically assigned to receive the N form (scenario protagonists' communications not privileged) or the P form (communications privileged). Data screening indicated that none of the proposed covariates were substantially correlated with the dependent variables, thus they were deleted from the analysis. A 2 x 2 (Privilege Condition x Therapy Experience) factorial fixed-effects ANOVA was performed on willingness-to-disclose scores for each of the five scenarios. Data supported the first hypothesis that subjects in the privilege condition would have significantly higher willingness-to-disclose scores than subjects in the no-privilege condition. In contrast, the data did not support the second hypothesis. There were no significant differences between willingness-to-disclose scores of subjects with therapy experience and subjects without therapy experience. Finally, there was no significant interaction between privilege condition and therapy experience. Personal characteristics and therapy experience were not as predictive of willingness to disclose as was privilege condition.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of privileged communications law on perceived willingness to disclose in psychotherapy
- Creators
- Jennifer Evans Marsh
- Contributors
- Donald N. Bersoff (Advisor) - Drexel University, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002)
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- x, 11-184 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); College of Nursing and Health Professions (2000-2002)
- Other Identifier
- 991021889010104721