Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (An International Journal of Theory & Practice)

Hersoug, Anne Grete; Bøgwald, Kjell‐Petter; Høglend, Per

doi: 10.1002/cpp.372pmid: N/A

Patient and therapist characteristics were explored as predictors of the use of defence interpretation in non‐manualized brief dynamic therapy (N = 38, max 40 sessions). Therapist interventions were rated with the Psychodynamic Intervention Rating Scale in an early session (7th) and in the mid‐phase of therapy (16th session). Low quality of patients' interpersonal relationships (rated with Dynamic Scales) was associated with more interpretation early in the therapy. Therapists with greater experience gave more interpretation. The combination of more maladaptive defensive functioning (rated with Defence Mechanism Rating Scales) and low quality of working alliance was associated with a high proportion of interpretation. Differences between individual therapists accounted for 35% of the variance in interpretation early in therapy and 42% in the mid‐phase. Therapists gave significantly more interpretation in the mid‐phase compared to early in the therapy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cropley, Mark; MacLeod, Andrew K.

doi: 10.1002/cpp.360pmid: N/A

This study investigated the relationship between attributional thinking and future expectations, in a group of mildly depressed (dysphoric) and non‐depressed control individuals. Participants were asked to recall eight positive and eight negative cued autobiographical memories, and then generate a short attributional statement giving the reason why they thought each event had happened. They then rated the likelihood of each event happening in the future. Each attribution was coded along three attributional dimensions: Internality, Stability, and Globality and ratings were combined to yield a composite score for positive items and a composite score for negative items. Relative to controls, dysphorics gave more internal, stable and global attributions for negative events, but their attributions for positive events were more external, unstable and specific. The dysphoric group also showed greater pessimism for future events. Irrespective of mood state, when recalled past events were attributed to internal, stable and global causes, participants gave greater likelihood expectations, compared to when events were attributed to external, unstable and specific causes. It was concluded that attributions do play a part in the link between memory retrieval and future judgements. The explanations people give of their past experiences are important in influencing their perceptions of the likelihood of such experiences in the future. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &Sons, Ltd.

Granberg, Åke; Armelius, Kerstin

doi: 10.1002/cpp.371pmid: N/A

Changes in the self‐image of severely disturbed psychiatric patients diagnosed with Kernberg's (1981) structural interview as having neurotic, borderline and psychotic personality organization (NPO, BPO and PPO) were studied in a naturalistic 5‐year follow‐up programme of milieu treatment. Self‐image was measured with Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (Benjamin, 1974) introject ratings. After treatment all patients had changed in the affiliation dimension of the self‐image, while there was almost no change in the interdependence dimension. A more detailed analysis showed that for the NPO and PPO patients the higher overall affiliation was due to a less attacking self‐image, while for the BPO patients it was due to more self‐love. Both at intake and follow‐up the PPO patients' ratings showed a positive self‐image and those of the BPO patients showed high self‐control. These ratings contrast with the diagnostic descriptions of such patients. It is suggested that these differences in perspective might lead to interpersonal problems. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Semerari, Antonio; Carcione, Antonino; Dimaggio, Giancarlo; Falcone, Maurizio; Nicolò, Giuseppe; Procacci, Michele; Alleva, Giorgio

doi: 10.1002/cpp.362pmid: N/A

In this article the authors present a method and a scale for the evaluation of the metacognitive profiles of psychotherapy patients. There will be a description of the metacognitive function and of the alterations that occur to it during treatment. Various hypotheses will then be considered: (1) that the metacognitive function has a modular structure; (2) that for each type of psychopathological condition there is a different metacognitive deficit profile; (3) that to be successful psychotherapy needs to involve an improvement in any deficient metacognitive sub‐function. There will then be a presentation of the Metacognition Assessment Scale (MAS) for the assessment of metacognitive deficits during psychotherapy. We shall then describe the first results we have on the application of the scale. Finally there will be an analysis of two patients suffering from Personality Disorders and a demonstration of what metacognitive deficit profile each one has and how it is modified over the course of psychotherapy treatment. The article ends with a discussion of the hypotheses made at the start in the light of the results that have emerged. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.