Experts have devised a system to measure the changes in psychotherapy patients' speech patterns.

Research published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology shows a set of indices that correspond with the interventions of a therapist and the patient's process of integrating experiences and events.

Specialists from the University of Sheffield and the University of Lisbon believe these could be important indicators for assessment and lead to more effective interventions.

David Neto, one of the authors of the study, commented: "This system answers to the need of clinicians to have a way to analyse what their clients are saying. 

"In this way, we transform clinical intuition in something more tangible, optimising it."

The researchers added that the indices will enable clinicians to identify when therapy is failing to yield the desired results and if a patient is experiencing a setback.

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