Dataset Information

Interpersonal problems as predictors of therapeutic alliance and symptom improvement in cognitive therapy for depression.

ABSTRACT: The degree to which interpersonal problems of depressed patients improve over the course of cognitive therapy (CT) and relate to the quality of the therapeutic alliance and to symptom improvement, remains unclear.We analyzed data of adult outpatients (N=523) with major depressive disorder participating in a clinical trial to determine the factor structure of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex (IIP-C) and to relate the observed factor scores to the quality of the therapeutic alliance and symptom improvement over the course of CT. Patients received 16-20 sessions protocol (50-60 min each) of individual CT according to the treatment manual by Beck et al. (1979).We found a three-factor structure (interpersonal distress, agency, and communion) of interpersonal problems. Interpersonal distress decreased (d=.90), but interpersonal style did not change substantively during CT (communion d=.03; agency d=.14). High initial agency scores related negatively to the therapeutic alliance (?=-.12), whereas high initial communion scores related positively to the therapeutic alliance (?=.15). Elevated pre-treatment interpersonal distress scores were related to both weaker therapeutic alliances (?=.13) and higher symptom levels throughout treatment (?=.10).All patients in this study had recurrent MDD and it is therefore uncertain whether the results would generalize to patients with other psychiatric disorders.This study supports the use of the IIP-C as a comprehensive measure of patients' interpersonal style and interpersonal distress. The IIP-C measured before CT showed some predictive validity with respect to therapeutic alliance measured at the midpoint and therapy outcome. The clinical importance of these findings is discussed.

SUBMITTER: Renner F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3306447 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Interpersonal problems as predictors of therapeutic alliance and symptom improvement in cognitive therapy for depression.

Renner Fritz F Jarrett Robin B RB Vittengl Jeffrey R JR Barrett Marna S MS Clark Lee Anna LA Thase Michael E ME

Journal of affective disorders 20120204 3

<h4>Background</h4>The degree to which interpersonal problems of depressed patients improve over the course of cognitive therapy (CT) and relate to the quality of the therapeutic alliance and to symptom improvement, remains unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>We analyzed data of adult outpatients (N=523) with major depressive disorder participating in a clinical trial to determine the factor structure of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex (IIP-C) and to relate the observed factor scores to t ...[more]

PMID: 22306232

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundDepressive and anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders, and there is a critical need for effective, affordable, and accessible interventions. Cognitive Behavioral Immersion (CBI) is a novel group-based cognitive behavioral skills training program delivered by lay coaches in the metaverse that can be accessed through various modalities including virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays or flat-screen devices. Combining its ability to offer empirically supported therapy skills in a digital setting that can still facilitate interpersonal variables (eg, working alliance and sense of social support) with the aid of lay coaches, CBI has the potential to help fill this critical need.ObjectiveThis study had 2 primary aims. First, we aimed to examine changes in depression and anxiety symptoms in a sample of individuals who participated in CBI. Second, we aimed to examine 2 interpersonal process variables (working alliance and web-based social support) as predictors of symptom changes. We predicted CBI participants would experience depression and anxiety symptom improvements and that such improvements would be associated with an increase in both interpersonal process variables.MethodsThe study sample consists of 127 participants who endorsed clinical levels of depression or anxiety symptoms during their first CBI session and attended at least 2 sessions. Participants were asked to complete self-report measures of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alliance, and web-based social support throughout their participation in CBI.ResultsRepeated measures ANOVAs determined that depression and anxiety symptom scores differed significantly across sessions (Ps<.01). We also found participants' web-based social support predicted improvement in depression symptoms (P=.01), but neither the alliance nor web-based social support predicted change in anxiety symptoms (Ps>.05). We also observed a significant difference in anxiety symptoms between participants who used a VR head-mounted display to access CBI and those who did not, such that participants who used VR head-mounted displays endorsed lower anxiety symptoms than those who did not at nearly every session (P=.04).ConclusionsParticipation in CBI is associated with both depression and anxiety symptom improvement. Web-based social support may play an important role in fostering changes in depression symptoms. Future studies are encouraged to continue examining the process of change in CBI with special attention paid to methods that can elucidate causal mechanisms of change.

Dataset Information

Interpersonal problems as predictors of therapeutic alliance and symptom improvement in cognitive therapy for depression.

Publications

Interpersonal problems as predictors of therapeutic alliance and symptom improvement in cognitive therapy for depression.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets