The discussion begins with an overview of the MSI-R (Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised), emphasizing scale structure and composition, administration and scoring, and empirical foundations of reliability and validity. Attention then shifts to clinical use in assessment and treatment of distressed relationships. A basic interpretive strategy for configural analysis integrating both partners' profiles is presented, along with recommendations for incorporating assessment data into different phases of therapy. Clinical use of the computer-based interpretive narrative is also emphasized. Third, use of the MSI-R as a measure for evaluating treatment outcome is addressed. Findings from various treatment studies highlight pre- to posttreatment profile changes typical of couples in treatment and the extent to which the MSI-R facilitates predicting couples' response to therapy. The chapter concludes with a clinical case highlighting the manner in which the MSI-R can be incorporated into the initial design and subsequent evaluation of treatment interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
