The therapeutic alliance is one of the most consistent predictors of therapeutic change, including symptom reduction and improvement in wellbeing and quality of life, across a variety of mental health interventions. Yet, little is known about its biological mechanisms. Oxytocin (OT) has been suggested as a biological mechanism by which bonds are formed and strengthened across species. This article is intended to demonstrate the potential of OT as a biomarker of therapeutic change in psychotherapy and counseling psychology, especially of the therapeutic alliance. We delineate three main potential paths of investigation based on the most recent research on OT in parent-child and romantic partner dyads. For each path, we provide a detailed explanation for whom, when, and how OT should be measured. Each path is illustrated using data collected in a randomized controlled trial of psychotherapy for major depressive disorder. These illustrations demonstrate the great potential of OT as a biomarker of (a) trait-like characteristics of the patients and the therapists, (b) the processes of therapeutic change, and (c) the dyadic synchrony between patients and their therapists. The potential clinical contribution of OT as a biomarker for each of these three paths is further demonstrated using a case study. Practical suggestions and directions for future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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催产素作为心理治疗和咨询心理学中治疗联盟形成的生物标志物。

治疗联盟是各种心理健康干预措施中最一致的治疗变化预测指标之一，包括症状减轻和幸福感和生活质量的改善。然而，对其生物学机制知之甚少。催产素 (OT) 已被认为是一种生物机制，通过该机制可以形成和加强跨物种的键。本文旨在证明 OT 作为心理治疗和咨询心理学，尤其是治疗联盟中治疗变化的生物标志物的潜力。我们根据对亲子和浪漫伴侣二人中 OT 的最新研究，描绘了三种主要的潜在调查途径。对于每条路径，我们都详细解释了应该测量谁、何时以及如何测量 OT。每条路径都使用在重度抑郁症心理治疗随机对照试验中收集的数据进行说明。这些插图证明了 OT 作为 (a) 患者和治疗师的特征样特征，(b) 治疗变化的过程，以及 (c) 患者与其治疗师之间的二元同步性的生物标志物的巨大潜力。使用案例研究进一步证明了 OT 作为这三种途径中每一种的生物标志物的潜在临床贡献。讨论了未来研究的实际建议和方向。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2020 APA，保留所有权利）。(b) 治疗变化的过程，以及 (c) 患者与其治疗师之间的二元同步。使用案例研究进一步证明了 OT 作为这三种途径中每一种的生物标志物的潜在临床贡献。讨论了未来研究的实际建议和方向。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2020 APA，保留所有权利）。(b) 治疗变化的过程，以及 (c) 患者与其治疗师之间的二元同步。使用案例研究进一步证明了 OT 作为这三种途径中每一种的生物标志物的潜在临床贡献。讨论了未来研究的实际建议和方向。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2020 APA，保留所有权利）。