Attachment and Sexuality: Impact of Confinement by COVID-19.

This study examined attachment style and its relationship with sexual self-esteem during COVID-19 confinement. COVID-19 has caused changes in the way couples interact intimately and sexually around the world; some have found improvements and others an increase in difficulties. This article uses a retrospective pre post approach to evaluate 120 men and 89 women who were part of a couple at the time of confinement in Spain and completed an online survey. The sample was obtained during the de-escalation months, from May 9th until July 1st, 2020. Through an online survey we collected the data using the Spanish version of the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-S) to measure attachment and the Brief Sexuality Scale (SS) to measure aspects related to the participants sexuality (sexual self-esteem, sexual depression, and sexual preoccupation), as well as a scale designed post hoc on other aspects related to sexuality. Overall, the t-test results suggest that confinement had a negative effect on sexuality because sexual depression (SD) had a small increased in our sample. Multiple regression analysis showed that FSI, and ANXS attachment style were able to predict sexual depression during confinement. The results also showed a decrease in the strength of the relationship between sexual self-esteem (SSE) and attachment styles during confinement. However, sexual preoccupation (SP) and sexual self-esteem (SSE) remained relatively stable. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that there is an association between an increase in participants' sexual depression and being confined due to COVID-19.

Altruismo y apego en madres y padres de acogida: un estudio piloto / Altruisme i aferrament a mares i pares d'acollida: un estudi pilot / Altruism and attachment in foster parents: a pilot study

El objetivo del artículo es valorar las variables de altruismo y apego en padres y madres de acogida en familia ajena. El estudio piloto muestra los resultados de los 71 primeros casos (41 mujeres y 30 hombres) de una investigación que está en proceso, cuyos participantes residen en Barcelona (capital y provincia) y presentan edades comprendidas entre 40 y 68 años. La mayor parte de esta tiene estudios superiores, está casada y tiene algún hijo biológico. Para la recopilación de datos se utilizaron dos escalas cuantitativas: Cuestionario de Apego Adulto (Melero y Cantero, 2008) y Escala de Prosociabilidad Caprara (Caprara, Steca, Zelly y Campanna, 2005).(AU)

The article aims to assess the variables of altruism and attachment in foster parents. The pilot study shows the results of the first 71 cases (41 women and 30 men) of an investigation that is in progress, whose participants live in Barcelona (capital and province) and are aged between 40 and 68 years. Most of them have a University degree, are married, and have a biological child. Two quantitative scales were used for data collection: the Adult Attachment Questionnaire (Melero and Cantero, 2008) and the Caprara Prosociability Scale (Caprara, Steca, Zelly, and Campanna, 2005).(AU)

L’objectiu de l’article és valorar les variables d’altruisme i aferrament en pares i mares d’acollida en família aliena. L'estudi pilot mostra els resultats dels 71 primers casos (41 dones i 30 homes) d'una investigació que està en procés, els participants de la qual resideixen a Barcelona (capital i província) i presenten edats compreses entre 40 i 68 anys. La majoria té estudis superiors, estan casats i té algun fill biològic. Per a la recopilació de dades, es van utilitzar dues escales quantitatives: Qüestionari d'Aferrament Adult (Melero i Cantero, 2008) i Escala de Prosociabilitat Caprara (Caprara, Steca, Zelly iCampanna, 2005).(AU)

Impact of the COVID-19 Confinement on Couple Satisfaction and Sexuality.

This study examined dyadic adjustment, which is an essential aspect for a couple's functioning, and its relationship with sexual self-esteem during COVID-19 confinement. This article presents data from before and during the confinement due to COVID-19 in Spain. 120 men and 89 women who were part of a couple at the time of confinement and completed an online survey participated in the study. The sample was obtained during the de-escalation months, from May 9th until July 1st, 2020. Three questionnaires were administered. The results that were obtained from the T-student, Pearson correlations and regression analyses show a decline in couples' adjustment during the months of confinement. Regarding the Sexuality Scale, the results showed that the sexual-depression subscale and the sexual self-esteem subscale had a statistically significant role in predicting the dyadic adjustment during confinement. Overall, our findings suggest that confinement had a negative effect on sexuality because the sexual-depression of the sample increased and couple adjustment decreased during the confinement due to COVID-19.

El proceso de duelo en la familia que emigra: del «Síndrome de Ulises» a la patología / El procés de dol en la família que emigra: de la “síndrome d'Ulisses” a la patologia / The grieving process in the migrant family: from the "Ulysses Syndrome" to pathology

En este artículo des-cribiremos la migración como un proceso en el cual aparecen profundas pérdidas. La reacción ante la pérdidaconstituye un proceso de duelo, que empieza antes de partir con la ambivalencia y termina con la reintroyec-ción del objeto cuando aparece la integración de la familia en la sociedad de acogida. Dependiendo de cómo serealiza la migración podrá elaborarse el duelo (migración normal), generará dificultades como el Síndrome delInmigrante con Estrés Crónico y Múltiple (Ulysses Sindrome) o fracasará la elaboración, apareciendo entoncessituaciones de riesgo por las que la familia puede desorganizarse y enfermar.(AU)

In this article, we willdescribe migration as a process in which profound losses occur. The reaction to the loss constitutes a mourningprocess, which begins before the migration with ambivalence and ends with the reintroduction of the objectwhen the integration of the family into the host society takes place. Depending on how the migration is carriedout, the mourning can be elaborated (normal migration), it will generate difficulties such as the Chronic andMultiple Stress Migrant Syndrome (Ulysses Syndrome) or the elaboration will fail, thus creating risk situations inwhich the family can become disorganised and become ill.(AU)

En aquest article descriuremla migració com un procés en el qual apareixen profundes pèrdues. La reacció davant la pèrdua constitueix unprocés de dol, que comença abans de marxar amb l'ambivalència i acaba amb la reintrojecció de l'objecte quanapareix la integració de la família en la societat d'acollida. Depenent de com es realitza la migració es pot ela-borar el dol (migració normal), generarà dificultats com la síndrome de l'immigrant amb estrès crònic i múltiple(Ulysses Sindrome) o fracassarà l'elaboració, amb l’aparició llavors de situacions de risc per les quals la famíliapot desorganitzar-se i emmalaltir.(AU)

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Short Version of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-18) in a Nonclinical Sample.

This report supports validation for the Spanish 18-item short version of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO), a self-reported instrument for the assessment of personality organization, according to Kernberg's object-relation based model. The IPO is used to depict personality structure types, using three scales: psychological defense mechanisms, degree of identity integration and reality testing. The review of the literature suggests alternatively factorial solutions. Accordingly, this study, using a nonclinical sample (N = 315), tested the fit of several factorial models (2- and 3- factor solution) via the maximum likelihood approach. Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed a better fit for the 2-factor solution (CFI = .97, TLI = .96, RMSEA = .037, AIC = 311.06), in accordance with Kernberg's theory. Each of the 2 IPO subscales shows good levels of internal consistency, and they are associated with increased negative affect, aggressive dyscontrol as well as depression, anxiety and general level of psychopathological distress in line with theoretical expectations. Our results suggest that the Spanish short version of the IPO is a reliable and valid tool for the assessment of personality organization following Kernberg's model.

A Mixed-method Study of Individual, Couple, and Parental Functioning During the State-regulated COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain.

During the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Spain, we explored the individual and relational well-being of people confined together with their partners and/or children during the first 3 weeks of state-regulated lockdown. Adults 18 years or older (N = 407) completed an online survey that included demographic, household, and employment information along with standardized measures of psychological distress (State-Trait Anxiety and Beck Depression) and relationship functioning-either the Dyadic Adjustment Scale if there were no children in the household or a Basic Family Relations Evaluation Questionnaire (CERFB) measuring conjugal, parental, and coparental functions. Qualitative analyses of responses to an open-ended question about perceived changes in couple or family dynamics during lockdown revealed nine specific themes comprising two overarching categories: relational improvement and deterioration. The overall prevalence of improvement themes (61.7%) exceeded deterioration themes (41.0%), with increased (re)connection and conflict atmosphere cited most often. Quantitative analyses found elevated levels of state anxiety but not trait anxiety or depression during lockdown. Consistent with the qualitative results, couples having no children at home reported high levels of dyadic adjustment, but with children present CERFB parental functioning exceeded conjugal functioning, a pattern sometimes associated with child triangulation into adult conflicts. Although correlates of psychological distress (e.g., unemployment, perceived economic risk) were relatively stable across subgroups, predictors of relationship functioning varied substantially with household/parental status (e.g., telecommuting and employment facilitated conjugal functioning only for couples with children).

Durante el reciente brote de la COVID-19 en España, analizamos el bienestar individual y relacional de las personas confinadas con sus parejas o hijos durante las primeras tres semanas de confinamiento regulado por el estado. Un grupo de adultos mayores de 18 años (N=407) completó una encuesta con datos demográficos, información sobre la vivienda y el empleo, evaluaciones estandarizadas de distrés psicológico (ansiedad-rasgo y ansiedad-estado, depresión de Beck) y funcionamiento familiar (la Escala de ajuste diádico si no había niños en la vivienda o un Cuestionario básico de evaluación de las relaciones familiares (CERFB) que miden las funciones conyugales, parentales y coparentales. Los análisis cualitativos de las respuestas a una pregunta abierta acerca de los cambios percibidos en la dinámica de pareja o familiar durante el confinamiento revelaron nueve temas específicos que comprenden dos categorías dominantes: la mejora y el deterioro relacional. La prevalencia general de los temas de mejora (61.7 %) excedió los temas de deterioro (41.0 %), y se mencionó con más frecuencia una mayor (re)conexión y un ambiente de conflicto. Los análisis cuantitativos indicaron niveles elevados de ansiedad-estado pero no de ansiedad-rasgo ni de depresión durante el confinamiento. De acuerdo con los resultados cualitativos, las parejas que no tienen hijos en la casa informaron niveles altos de ajuste diádico, pero con los niños presentes, el funcionamiento parental del CERFB excedió el funcionamiento conyugal, un patrón asociado a veces con la triangulación de los niños en los conflictos de los adultos. Aunque las relaciones de distrés psicológico (p. ej.: desempleo, riesgo económico percibido) fueron relativamente estables entre los subgrupos, los predictores del funcionamiento relacional variaron considerablemente con la situación habitacional/parental (p. ej: el teletrabajo y el empleo facilitaron el funcionamiento conyugal solo en el caso de las parejas con niños).

Influence of Communicative Openness on the Psychological Adjustment of Internationally Adopted Adolescents.

This study evaluated the predictive relationship between the communicative openness and psychological adjustment of adopted adolescents, controlling for preplacement risk factors. One hundred Spanish international adoptees aged 12-18 took part in the study. Data were gathered with a structured interview, the Youth Self Report and the Adoption Communication Scale. A history of maltreatment prior to the adoption was associated with more closed communication between parents and children. Prenatal drug exposure shows a relationship with the presence of externalizing behaviors and attention problems in adolescents. Finally, a lower degree of communicative openness regarding the child's origins was significantly associated with the presence of all the adolescent behavioral problems studied.

Consideraciones acerca de la interpretación de la escala de Zarit en cuidadores de pacientes con esquizofrenia / Considerations about the interpretation of the Zarit scale in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia

No disponible

Autolesiones sin finalidad autolítica: una revisión sistemática en adolescentes de la comunidad / Non-suicidal self-injury: a systematic review

El objetivo de este artículo es presentar una revisión de la investigación existente sobre las autolesiones no suicidas (ANS) en población comunitaria adolescente. Las ANS son un fenómeno tan común entre los adolescentes que se han propuesto como potencial trastorno independiente. Los rangos prevalencia están entre el 4,8 y el 28 %, con una edad de inicio entre los 12 y los 15 años. Su presencia se acompaña de diversos trastornos además del Trastorno Límite de Personalidad (TLP). Las experiencias adversas en la infancia así como factores internos son potentes factores de riesgo

The aim of this article is to present a review of the existing research on Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents. NSSI is such a common phenomenon among adolescents that it has been proposed to be treated as a potential independent disorder. The prevalence ranges are between 4.8 and 28%, with the age range between 12 and 15 years. It occurs together with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and other types of disorders in addition to this. Both adverse experiences in childhood and internal factors are potent risk factors

L'objectiu d'aquest article és presentar una revisió de la investigació existent sobre les autolesions no suïcides (ANS) en població comunitària adolescent. Les ANS són un fenomen tan comú entre els adolescents que s'han proposat com a potencial trastorn independent. Els rangs de prevalença estan entre el 4,8 I el 28 %, amb una edat d'inici entre els 12 I els 15 anys. La seva preséncia s'acompanya de diversos trastorns, a banda del trastorn límit de la personalitat (TLP). Les experiències adverses en la infantesa, així com factors interns, són potents factors de risc

Quality of life in family caregivers of schizophrenia patients in Spain: caregiver characteristics, caregiving burden, family functioning, and social and professional support.

OBJECTIVE: Caregivers experience physical and mental stress that ends up lowering their quality of life (QoL). Our goal was to research (a) the level of caregivers QoL; (b) the relationships between the demographic characteristics of the caregivers, their caregiving burden, their family functioning, their social and professional support and their QoL and (c) the best predictors of caregivers QoL. METHODS: 100 key caregivers (70% parents, 8% spouses, 17% siblings and 5% children) were studied using the world health organization quality of life-Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) to research their QoL, the Zarit Scale to assess their perception of their caregiving burden, the Social Network Questionnaire to examine their social support, the Family APGAR to assess the satisfaction with social support from the family and a professional support scale (Escala de Apoyo Profesional) to determine the professional support received by caregivers was performed. RESULTS: Scores on the WHOQOL-BREF in the Physical, Psychological, Social and Environment domains were 15.0 (SD = 3.7), 13.3 (SD = 4.2), 11.0 (SD = 4.7) and 13.5 (SD = 3.1), respectively. Through bivariate analysis, the dimensions that showed a positive significant association with QoL were being a young male caregiver who was a working father with a high educational level and help from other family members. Caregivers of patients who were older and had a later onset of the illness, a lower score on the Zarit Scale and a high score on the Social Network Questionnaire, Family APGAR and Escala de Apoyo Profesional showed higher QoL. Many of these variables made a unique contribution in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between the caregiver's burden and their QoL. Regression analysis showed that the best predictors of QoL were caregiving burden, social support and professional support.

¿Hay violencia laboral en las residencias de mayores españolas? / Is there workplace violence in the Spanish nursing homes?

No disponible

Elaboración y validación de una Escala de Apoyo Profesional para cuidadores de pacientes con esquizofrenia / Elaboration and validation of a Professional Suport Scale for schizophrenic´s caregivers

Introducción: La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo elaborar y validar una escala para evaluar el apoyo profesional que reciben los cuidadores de pacientes con esquizofrenia. Se conoce bastante acerca de los factores que afectan en la percepción de carga sin haberse explorado si el apoyo profesional que reciben los cuidadores puede también influir. Hasta donde conocemos, no existen instrumentos validados que evalúen esta variable. Material y método: A partir de una revisión bibliográfica, discusión de grupos focales y entrevistas individuales se elaboraron los ítems de la escala y se validó en una muestra de 100 cuidadores. Resultados: La escala demostró una buena consistencia interna (α de Cronbach = 0,82) y adecuada estabilidad test-retest al cabo de 4 semanas (r = 0,91). Conclusiones: La Escala de Apoyo Profesional (EAP-C) es adecuada para evaluar el grado de apoyo profesional que perciben los cuidadores. Además, puede ser útil en la evaluación de la calidad asistencial que reciben los cuidadores de pacientes esquizofrénicos (AU)

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to elaborate and validate a tool to evaluate the professional support given to schizophrenics’ caregivers. The main factors involved in burden perception are well known. However, it has not been explored whether the professional support received by caregivers can influence it too. To our knowledge, we lack validated instruments to assess this variable. Material and methods: A literature review, focus group discussions and individual interviews were carried out to elaborate the items of the scale and to validate it on a sample of 100 caregivers. Results: The scale demonstrated a good internal consistency (α Cronbach = 0,82) and an acceptable test-retest reliability after four weeks (r = 0,91). Conclusions: The Professional Support Scale (EAP-C) is a useful tool to evaluate the professional support perceived by caregivers. In addition, it may be useful for the evaluation of the quality of health care received by schizophrenics’ caregivers (AU)

Violencia laboral hacia los profesionales sanitarios en España / Workplace violence for health professionals in Spain

La agresión a los profesionales sanitarios es un fenómeno en España. Se han realizado diversos estudios para conocer el alcance y los factores de riesgo, pero se desconoce su incidencia, agentes y factores implicados. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer el alcance de la agresión hacia los profesionales mediante una revisión de la literatura científica. Se realizó una búsqueda exhaustiva en MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PSYCINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar y en portales institucionales que tratan aspectos de medicina del trabajo y salud laboral. Se incluyeron los estudios publicados desde 1990 que abordaran la violencia laboral a los profesionales sanitarios. Dieciséis estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. La lengua española (75%) y los diseños descriptivos con instrumentos ad hoc (81,25%) son las variables más estudiadas; las características del agresor, factores de predisposición y organizacionales las que menos. Si bien la investigación realizada dificulta la comparación de datos por la variabilidad metodológica, la violencia laboral hacia los profesionales sanitarios es un fenómeno existente (AU)

Aggression towards health professionals is a phenomenon in Spain. Several studies were prepared to determine the scope and risk factors but the incidence, actors and factors involved in aggression towards healthcare professionals is unknown. The aim of this manuscript is to know the extent of aggression towards Spanish professionals. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and CINAHL PSYCINFO and institutional websites of occupational medicine and occupational health was performed. Studies published from 1990 to present that discussed workplace violence in health professionals were included. Variables were the number of violent incidents, language of publication, design, resources and services studied, type of professional, territory, instruments, characteristics of the perpetrator, types and causes of aggression. We classified and analyzed this information. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The Spanish language (75%) and descriptive designs with ad hoc (81.25%) instruments are the most studied variables; offender characteristics, predisposition and organizational factors were the least studied variables. Although the investigation makes it difficult to compare data due to methodological variability, workplace violence to health professionals is an existing phenomenon (AU)

Patient assaults on professionals? Type II workplace violence: A known phenomenon in Barcelona nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: Workplace violence is a real phenomenon at nursing homes. This article studied this phenomenon in Barcelona. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether type II workplace violence takes place in senior citizen residences in Barcelona. METHODS: To conduct this exploratory, descriptive and transversal study, the ad hoc QViLab II Questionnaire (version 1) was administered to professionals at senior citizen residences in Barcelona. The sample system used was the randomly stratified conglomerate system, using the size of the residence as the stratum to ensure the representativeness of the sample. Sixty-seven professionals from residences in Barcelona participated in the study. RESULTS: The results show that 61.2% (IC 95%: 58-65%) of the professionals believed that they have been assaulted by the residents they cared for in the previous year. With regard to the participant variables, we noticed a significant relationship between stress and the belief of having been assaulted. The professionals stated that male residents assaulted them more than females and that verbal aggression was the most common form of aggression from both males and females, followed by physical aggression. With regard to frequency, verbal demands were the kind most often expressed on a daily basis. CONCLUSIONS: Professionals from nursing homes in Barcelona perceived workplace violence.

Emotional indicators in young patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: a study through the drawing of Human Figure.

BACKGROUND: Investigating Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is considered determinant in patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) in clinical as in research field. The aim of the present study is to explore the most relevant aspects of personality of the patients with AIS and its relationship with HRQL. METHOD: 50 patients (mean age = 16 years) were given a socio-demographic data questionnaire, the Human Figure Drawing (HFD) and SRS (Scoliosis Research Society) -22. RESULTS: In Subtotal SRS-22, patients presented a mean value of 3.9. In HFD, half of these patients presented physical and/or emotional tensions with reference to the shoulders and almost all of them did not show any expression of aggressiveness. No relationship between personality and HRQL was confirmed. The older the patients were, the more body tension was discovered as well as the more concerns about their bodies they showed to have. There was also a correlation between growing old and a decreasing in Mental Health. Previous conservative treatment did not show any impact on personality or on HRQL. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AIS suffer stress and general concern more frequently with the increase of age. We suggest an appropriate supportive treatment for this type of patients.

El esceno-Test familiar, una propuesta de sistema de codificación cuali-cuantitativa / Teh family sceno-test: toward a qualitative and quantitative coding system / L'esceno-test familiar. Una proposta de sistema de codificació qualitativa I quantitativa

Este trabajo presenta una modalidad de administración semi-estandarizada del Esceno-test, junto con su codificación, para el grupo familiar. Los indicadores de que se compone la codificación son tanto cualitativos como cuantitativos, y tratan de asegurar la inter-subjetividad de la codificación y la validez de aplicación del mismo test. Los dos niveles de codificación pueden utilizarse por separado o conjuntamente, o simplemente pueden utilizarse algunos componentes específicos. La presentación final de un caso clínico muestra un ejemplo de la codificación con referencia particular al nivel cuantitativo e ilustra la utilización del test en el contexto de la intervención familiar

The present work illustrates a way of administering a semi-standardized version of the Sceno-Test, together with a scoring system that was developed ad hoc within a family framework. The indices of which the coding is composed are both of qualitative and quantitative nature, and their goal is to guarantee the intersubjectivity of the scoring as well as to validate the use of the test itself. The two levels of scoring can be utilized separately or conjointly, or even some specific components can be employed. The final presentation of a clinical case exemplifies the scoring system with particular reference to its quantitative level, and it illustrates the use of the test in the context of family interventions

Aquest treball refl exiona, des d'una perspectiva psi-codinàmica, sobre els aspectes del funcionament mental del nen que poden resultar d'utilitat per a la prescripció de psi-cofàrmacs, l'ajustament I la modifi cació en el context d'un tractament psicoterapèutic que inclou necessàriament el treball conjunt amb psicoterapeutes. Es proposa que les angúnies mobilitzades, en primer lloc, així com els mecanismes de defensa emprats, secundàriament, són criteris que ofereixen una guia útil per a la selecció de la medicació

La alianza terapéutica en tratamiento conjunto de parejas: evaluación de la alianza y análisis de los factores influyentes en el triángulo terapéutico / The therapeutic alliance in joint treatment of the couple members: evaluation of the alliance and analysis of the factors influencing the therapeutic triangle

La alianza terapéutica en psicoterapia se ha ido configurando como una relación interpersonal existente y necesaria entre el paciente y el terapeuta. Hoy en día todas las orientaciones teóricas otorgan a la alianza terapéutica un papel importante en la relación terapéutica, ya que la relación entre la alianza terapéutica y la eficacia del tratamiento en psicoterapia ha sido constatada en numerosos estudios. La alianza debe ser tomada en consideración en cualquier tratamiento, ya que si no es debidamente trabajada puede dificultar el trabajo terapéutico y, por tanto, deben destinarse a su formación y mantenimiento tanto técnicas interpretativas como no interpretativas cuando se requieran. En psicoterapia de pareja, a causa del triángulo terapéutico y de la gran diversidad de mecanismos que operan en el tratamiento conjunto, la formación y el desarrollo de la alianza adquieren mayor dificultad. En el trabajo se describen las dimensiones de la alianza terapéutica en este tipo de tratamiento siguiendo el modelo del Sistema de Observación de la Alianza Terapéutica en Intervención Familiar (SOATIF). Evaluamos mediante la versión observacional del SOATIF (SOATIF-o) la alianza terapéutica que establece el psicoterapeuta de la serie norteamericana In treatment con la pareja que acude a su consulta durante nueve sesiones, así como los otros elementos de la relación terapéutica con los que la alianza interacciona. El trabajo es útil como herramienta de entrenamiento para familiarizarse con el instrumento y como material docente, ya que aparecen reflejados los aspectos más importantes de la relación terapéutica entre el terapeuta y la pareja.

The concept of therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy has been shaped as an existing andnecessary interpersonal relationship between the patient and the therapist. Nowadays,all theoretical orientations have assigned to the therapeutic alliance a central role inthe therapeutic relationship, as the relationship between the therapeutic alliance andthe treatment efficacy in psychotherapy has been proved in numerous studies. Thetherapeutic alliance should be taken into consideration in any treatment, because if it isnot properly treated, it can jeopardize the analytic work and, therefore, interpretive andnon- interpretive interventions must be used when required. In couple psychotherapy,because of the therapeutic triangle and the great diversity of mechanisms that operatein this type of conjoint treatment, the formation and the development of the alliancebecome more difficult. This paper describes the dimensions of the therapeutic alliancein this type of treatment based on the System for Observing Family Therapy Alliances(SOFTA). The therapeutic alliance established by the psychotherapist and a couplewho undergoes a treatment for nine sessions in the North American TV seriesInTreatmentis assessed with the observational version of the SOFTA (SOFTA-o), aswell as the other elements of the therapeutic relationship that interact with the alliance.The paper is useful as a training tool for getting familiar with the instrument and asteaching material, since the most important aspects of the therapeutic relationshipbetween the therapist and the couple are represented.