From symptom relief to interpersonal change: Treatment outcome and effectiveness in inpatient psychotherapy

Psychother Res. 2008 Sep;18(5):615-24. doi: 10.1080/10503300802192158.

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of psychodynamic inpatient psychotherapy on patients' psychological distress and interpersonal problems during the course of treatment and 1 year later. A total of 156 patients were assessed with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems at intake, 4 weeks later, and at the end of therapy. The follow-up assessment was conducted 1 year later. Results support psychodynamic approaches as well as the phase model, which stresses that the goals to be achieved by psychotherapeutic interventions are not only improvement of well-being and symptoms but also changes in interpersonal behavior. Consequently, on a long-term basis, the first 4 weeks of therapy seem to be insufficient, especially for adequate changes on the interpersonal level.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adjustment Disorders / diagnosis
  • Adjustment Disorders / psychology
  • Adjustment Disorders / therapy*
  • Adult
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Anxiety Disorders / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care*
  • Patient Admission*
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychoanalytic Therapy / methods*
  • Psychometrics
  • Somatoform Disorders / diagnosis
  • Somatoform Disorders / psychology
  • Somatoform Disorders / therapy*
  • Young Adult