TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychodynamic techniques related to outcome for anxiety disorder patients at different points in treatment
AU - Pitman, Seth
AU - Slavin-Mulford, Jenelle
AU - Hilsenroth, Mark
PY - 2014/5
Y1 - 2014/5
N2 - Although psychodynamic therapy has a well-articulated model of therapeutic change for anxiety, few empirical studies have examined specific treatment interventions related to symptom improvement. We examined the degree of adherence to a psychodynamic model of therapy (Blagys and Hilsenroth [Clin Psychol 7:167-188, 2000) related to changes in anxiety symptoms across early treatment process. Secondary analyses also examined the use of specific psychodynamic techniques across early treatment process in relation to symptom change. The current study sought to extend the findings of , who found a relationship between the use of psychodynamic techniques in the third session (independent clinical ratings) and reduction in anxiety symptoms at posttreatment (r = 0.46, p = 0.04). Using the same sample of anxiety disorder patients (N = 20), we found a significant relationship between psychodynamic technique and posttreatment change in anxiety symptoms at the ninth session (r = 0.49, p = 0.03) and the mean levels of psychodynamic technique across both third and ninth sessions (r = 0.53, p = 0.02). In addition, specific psychodynamic techniques demonstrated significant relationships or moderate to large effects with posttreatment changes in anxiety symptoms at the third and ninth sessions as well as mean ratings across early treatment (third and ninth sessions). These findings indicate that therapist focus on cyclical intrapersonal patterns in patient actions, feelings, or experience as well as suggestions of alternative ways to understand these experiences or events not previously recognized by the patient (i.e., interpretation) in the early treatment process were particularly helpful in reducing posttreatment anxiety symptoms. Clinical implications and areas for future research will be discussed.
AB - Although psychodynamic therapy has a well-articulated model of therapeutic change for anxiety, few empirical studies have examined specific treatment interventions related to symptom improvement. We examined the degree of adherence to a psychodynamic model of therapy (Blagys and Hilsenroth [Clin Psychol 7:167-188, 2000) related to changes in anxiety symptoms across early treatment process. Secondary analyses also examined the use of specific psychodynamic techniques across early treatment process in relation to symptom change. The current study sought to extend the findings of , who found a relationship between the use of psychodynamic techniques in the third session (independent clinical ratings) and reduction in anxiety symptoms at posttreatment (r = 0.46, p = 0.04). Using the same sample of anxiety disorder patients (N = 20), we found a significant relationship between psychodynamic technique and posttreatment change in anxiety symptoms at the ninth session (r = 0.49, p = 0.03) and the mean levels of psychodynamic technique across both third and ninth sessions (r = 0.53, p = 0.02). In addition, specific psychodynamic techniques demonstrated significant relationships or moderate to large effects with posttreatment changes in anxiety symptoms at the third and ninth sessions as well as mean ratings across early treatment (third and ninth sessions). These findings indicate that therapist focus on cyclical intrapersonal patterns in patient actions, feelings, or experience as well as suggestions of alternative ways to understand these experiences or events not previously recognized by the patient (i.e., interpretation) in the early treatment process were particularly helpful in reducing posttreatment anxiety symptoms. Clinical implications and areas for future research will be discussed.
KW - CPPS
KW - Psychodynamic psychotherapy
KW - STPP
KW - anxiety
KW - technique
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U2 - 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000137
DO - 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000137
M3 - Article
C2 - 24727725
AN - SCOPUS:84899968841
SN - 0022-3018
VL - 202
SP - 391
EP - 396
JO - Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
JF - Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
IS - 5
ER -