Estruturas de interação no tratamento psicodinâmico de uma paciente com Transtorno de Personalidade Borderline / Estructuras de interacción en el tratamiento psicodinámico de un paciente con Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad / Interaction Structures in the Psychodynamic Therapy of a Patient with Borderline Personality Disorder

Estruturas de interação são padrões repetitivos que ocorrem entre terapeuta e paciente, mesmo que am-bos não sejam conscientes disso. Na pesquisa empíri-ca, elas ajudam a compreender como se estabelece o processo de mudança em psicoterapia. Nesse sentido, esta investigação utilizou 68 sessões de psicoterapia psicanalítica de um caso de uma jovem paciente com Transtorno de Personalidade Borderline (tpb) com o objetivo de identificar as estruturas de interação e sua correlação com o tempo de tratamento. Os dados fo-ram gravados em vídeo e posteriormente codificados através do Psychotherapy Process Q-Set (pqs), por duplas de juízes treinados na metodologia Q-Sort. A partir desses dados, foi realizada a análise fatorial do tipo Q de componentes principais que indicou quatro estruturas de interação, sendo fator 1: Colaborativo; fa-tor 2: Resistência; fator 3: Aliança/Ruptura e fator 4: Apoio/Encorajamento. As estruturas indicaram que a interação se voltou para o trabalho de manutenção da interação colaborativa, através de uma posição empá-tica do terapeuta, direcionado para o reconhecimento dos estados internos do paciente. Apesar do trabalho colaborativo, a resistência também surgiu como um padrão repetitivo. O terapeuta se tornou diretivo com intervenções estruturadas e questionando o paciente, desta forma contribuindo para o desenvolvimento da capacidade de mentalização. Implicações sobre o pro-cesso psicoterápico e indicações para estudos futuros são apresentados com o intuito de contribuir na com-preensão sobre o tratamento de pacientes com tpb em psicoterapia psicodinâmica.

Las estructuras de interacción son patrones repetitivos que ocurren entre el terapeuta y el paciente, incluso si ambos no son conscientes de esto. En la investigación empírica ayudan a comprender cómo se establece el proceso de cambio en psicoterapia. En tal sentido, esta investigación utilizó 68 sesiones de psicoterapia psicoanalítica del caso de un paciente joven con Tras-torno Límite de la Personalidad (tlp) para identificar las estructuras de interacción y su correlación con el momento del tratamiento. Los datos fueron grabados en video y posteriormente codificados utilizando el Q-Set Proceso de Psicoterapia (pqs), por pares de jueces en-trenados en la metodología Q-Sort. Con base en estos datos, se realizó un análisis factorial del tipo Q de componentes principales, el cual indicó cuatro estructuras de interacción, siendo factor 1: Colaborativo; factor 2: Resistencia; factor 3: Alianza/Disrupción y factor 4: Apoyo/Estímulo. Las estructuras indicaron que la interacción se tornó al trabajo de mantener la interacción colaborativa, a través de una posición empática del terapeuta, dirigida al reconocimiento de los estados internos del paciente. A pesar del trabajo colaborativo, la resistencia también surgió como un patrón repetitivo. El terapeuta se volvió directivo con intervenciones estructuradas cuestionando al paciente, contribuyendo así al desarrollo de la capacidad mentalizadora. Se presentan implicaciones en el proceso psicoterapéutico e indicaciones para futuros estudios con el objetivo de contribuir a la comprensión del tratamiento de pacientes con tlp en psicoterapia psicodinámica.

Interaction structures are repetitive patterns of interaction between therapist and patient, even if they are not conscious of it. In empirical research, they help to un-derstand how the process of change in psychotherapy is established. In this sense, the current research used 68 sessions of psychoanalytic psychotherapy in a young patient with Borderline Personality Disorder (bpd) to identify the interaction structures and their correlation with different moments of treatment. The sessions were recorded on video and later encoded through the Psy-chotherapy Process Q-Set (PQS) by pairs of judges trained in Q-Sort methodology. A factor analysis of the Q-type of main components was performed based on these data, which indicated four interaction structures. Factor 1: Collaborative; factor 2: Resistance; factor 3: Alliance/Rupture; and factor 4: Support/Encornment. The structures indicated the interaction became a work of maintenance of the collaborative interaction through an empathic position of the therapist, focused on recognizing the patient's internal states. Despite the collaborative work, resistance also appeared as a repetitive pattern. The therapist became more directive with more structured interventions questioning the patient, thus, contributing to the development of the capacity of mentalization. Implications for the psychotherapeutic process and in-dications for future studies are presented to contribute to the comprehension of the treatment of patients with bpd in psychodynamic psychotherapy.

[Psychotherapy of traumatic grief in exiled patients]. / Psychothérapie du deuil traumatique chez les patients exilés.

After a presentation of the clinical speci-ficities of complex traumas in exiled patients, the psychotherapeutic issues and processes at work in the treatment of traumatic mourning are detailed through a clinical case. Emphasis is placed on the articulation and interface between the private and collective dimensions of grief.

The Strength of Alliance in Individual Psychotherapy and Patient's Wellbeing: The Relationships of the Therapeutic Alliance to Psychological Wellbeing, Satisfaction With Life, and Flourishing in Adult Patients Attending Individual Psychotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: The central aim of the research was to verify and determine the strength of the relationships of therapeutic alliance to wellbeing, life satisfaction, and flourishing in patients attending individual psychotherapy. The relationships were assessed based on different sources of information about the quality of the working alliance: patient's evaluation and patient's and psychotherapist's joint evaluations. DESIGN: The author applied Bordin's pantheoretical model of alliance and two different conceptions of wellbeing, operationalized as hedonistic and eudaimonic. METHODS: The 411 participants included 252 patients and 159 psychotherapists. To test the hypotheses, 16 joint and separate models of structural relations were built and analyzed empirically using SEM. Correlations were analyzed between alliance factors and those of wellbeing, satisfaction, and flourishing. RESULTS: The actual impact of working alliance quality on psychological wellbeing proved to be stronger compared to the relations between alliance and satisfaction or flourishing. The results of analyses revealed low, though usually positive and significant, correlations between the dimensions of alliance and those of wellbeing, life satisfaction, and flourishing. CONCLUSIONS: The empirical data and the strategy of analyses brought the expected results, confirming that patient's and psychotherapist's perception of a strong therapeutic alliance is crucial for the optimization of patient's functioning and wellbeing. It turns out that the therapeutic alliance is, above all, a factor of wellbeing understood more deeply than merely as current pleasure. The study also showed that no factor isolated from other components of alliance increased the quality of patient's mental functioning more than others.

Avaliação do processo psicoterápico: levantamento de técnicas e instrumentos / Assessment of the psychotherapeutic process: survey of techniques and instruments

Um dos aspectos mais estudados em intervenções psicoterápicas são os procedimentos empregados em psicoterapia que resultam em melhores benefícios ao paciente em um menor espaço de tempo, ou seja, a avaliação da eficiência do processo psicoterápico, prezando-se não apenas pela ética com o paciente, mas também pela redução de gastos com tratamentos. Diante disso, o objetivo deste estudo foi levantar quais os principais instrumentos utilizados com essa finalidade. Por meio de busca sistematizada de literatura, foram resgatados 5.938 artigos que, após triagem por meio de critérios de inclusão e exclusão, resultaram em um conjunto de 157 estudos analisados em sua íntegra, o que permitiu identificar 114 instrumentos e técnicas. Após a apresentação dos instrumentos mais recorrentes na literatura, algumas considerações foram tecidas a respeito do panorama atual de avaliação de processos psicoterapêuticos, como, por exemplo, a escassez de instrumentos brasileiros e as contribuições desta pesquisa para futuros estudos nessa temática.

One of the most studied aspects in psychotherapeutic interventions are the procedures used in psychotherapy that result in better patient benefits in a shorter period, the evaluation of psychotherapeutic process's efficiency, considering ethics toward the patient, and reducing treatment costs. This study aimed to identify the main instruments used for this purpose. Through a systematized review of literature, 5,938 articles were found, which, after screening by inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulted in a set of 157 studies and the identification of 114 instruments and techniques. After presenting the most recurrent instruments in the literature, some considerations were made regarding the current panorama of evaluation of psychotherapeutic processes, such as the scarcity of Brazilian instruments and the contributions of this research to future studies in this subject.

Observing the Working Alliance in Videoconferencing Psychotherapy for Alcohol Addiction: Reliability and Validity of the Working Alliance Inventory Short Revised Observer.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the mental health and alcohol consumption of individuals. Videoconferencing psychotherapy has become a fundamental mode of treatment for people with alcohol use disorders. However, there are still doubts about its effectiveness and the therapeutic relationship. The working alliance is considered a foundation of effective practice in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Observer measurements of the working alliance have demonstrated reliability and meaningful associations with the reduction of symptoms. However, translations of instruments to evaluate the working alliance and examine its construct have not previously been conducted for online psychotherapy for alcohol addiction. This study aimed for the cross-cultural adaptation of the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form-Observer (WAI-SR-O) for Brazil and the evaluation of its reliability and evidence of its validity in videoconferencing psychotherapy for alcoholism. The WAI-SR-O was applied by pairs of observers for the evaluation of the working alliance in 19 recorded sessions of videoconferencing psychotherapy of 10 clients with a diagnosis of alcohol addiction. The sessions were also evaluated by the therapist (WAI-T) and client (WAI-C). The WAI-SR-O shows a moderate inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.67) for the general scale, higher ICC for the goals and bond subscales, and a moderate value for the task subscale. The internal consistency was good (a = 0.86). The results show low but significant correlations among the goals and bond subscales of the WAI-SR-O and the general, goals, and bond scales of the WAI-T. No correlations were found with the WAI-C. As the literature points out, the client, therapist, and observer versions of the WAI evaluated the alliance differently, requiring further study. The WAI-SR-O proved to be a reliable and valid measurement for the evaluation of the working alliance in videoconferencing psychotherapy for alcohol addiction, becoming an important tool for the study of the working alliance in telepsychotherapy.

Facial-affective communication and verbal relational offers during ruptures and resolution strategies: A systematic single case study / Comunicación facial-afectiva y ofertas relacionales verbales durante rupturas y estrategias de resolución: Un estudio sistemático de caso único

Resumen La investigación sobre la relación terapéutica ha subrayado su papel central en el proceso de cambio terapéutico, indicando la relevancia de determinar los elementos y mecanismos específicos que intervienen en su configuración (Knobloch-Fedders, Elkin, & Kiesler, 2014). La investigación sobre las rupturas de la relación terapéutica ha aportado a la comprensión del proceso de negociación interpersonal que interviene en la interacción paciente-terapeuta. Aunque estudios anteriores han contribuido a la caracterización objetiva y exhaustiva de las rupturas, se necesitan más investigaciones para especificar los marcadores que permiten comprender el modo como los patrones de regulación afectiva entre paciente y terapeuta están involucrados y contribuyen a la generación de estos eventos y a los intentos de reparación. El objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar el comportamiento facial-afectivo de paciente y terapeuta asociado a las ofertas relacionales (OR) verbales durante los eventos de ruptura (R) y de estrategia de resolución (ER) en una terapia psicodinámica breve. El comportamiento afectivo facial se determinó usando el Facial Action Coding System (FACS), las ORs se derivaron del análisis del contenido de las transcripciones de sesiones, y las R y ER se determinaron usando el 3RS. Se realizaron análisis anidados para establecer asociaciones entre las variables. Los resultados indican la presencia de pautas regulatorias faciales-verbales entre paciente y terapeuta características de las rupturas y estrategias de resolución; y señalan el valor de combinar múltiples enfoques para permitir el acceso a indicadores observables de los procesos regulatorios diádicos que contribuyen a comprender y atender las oscilaciones de la relación terapéutica.

Abstract Research on the therapeutic relationship has underscored its central role for the therapeutic change process, indicating the relevance of determining the specific elements and mechanisms involved in its configuration (Knobloch-Fedders, Elkin, & Kiesler, 2014). Research on ruptures of the therapeutic relationship has yielded particular contributions to better understanding the interpersonal negotiation process involved in the patient-therapist interaction. Although previous studies have contributed to the objective characterization and the exhaustive description of ruptures, more research is needed to further specify markers that allow a better understanding about how patterns of affective regulation between patient and therapist are involved and contribute to the emergence of these events and the attempts at reparation. The aim of this study is to characterize patient's and therapist's facial-affective behavior associated to verbal relational offers (RO) during rupture (R) and resolution strategy (RS) events in a brief psychodynamic therapy. Facial-affective behavior was determined using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), ROs were derived from the content analysis of session transcripts, and R and RS were determined using the 3RS. Nested analyses were carried to establish associations between variables. Results indicate characteristic patientherapist facial-verbal regulatory patterns for both rupture and resolution strategy events. These findings underscore the value of combining multiple approaches to allow an access to observable indicators of dyadic affect regulatory processes that can contribute to better understand and be attentive to the oscillations of the therapeutic relationship.

O processo psicoterapêutico psicodinâmico de um menino com sintomas internalizantes: uma análise com base no Child Psychotherapy Q-Set / The psychodynamic psychotherapeutic process of a boy with internalizing symptoms: an analysis based on the Child Psychotherapy Q-Set / El proceso psicoterapéutico psicodinámico de un niño con síntomas de internalización: un análisis con base en el Child Psychotherapy Q-Set

Problemas internalizantes são frequentes em crianças, mas os ingredientes ativos que tornam uma psicoterapia efetiva são ainda pobremente compreendidos. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o processo terapêutico psicodinâmico de um menino em idade escolar que apresentava sintomas internalizantes, cujo tratamento foi interrompido após 22 meses. Os participantes foram o paciente e sua terapeuta. O Child Psychotherapy Q-Set foi utilizado para analisar o processo terapêutico. Os resultados mostraram as características da relação terapeuta-paciente e suas transformações. Fatores como conflitos familiares, aliança terapêutica com os pais, limitação da capacidade de mentalização do menino, contratransferência, habilidades e ajustamento da terapeuta ao paciente tiveram impacto no processo terapêutico, contribuindo para o desfecho observado. Para elucidar questões em aberto acerca da efetividade e mecanismos de mudança da psicoterapia psicodinâmica, e para estabelecimento de uma base de evidências consistente, é imprescindível que se conheça, de fato, o que ocorre e como ocorre no setting clínico.

Internalizing problems are frequent in children, but the active ingredients that make a psychotherapy effective are still poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the psychodynamic therapeutic process of a school-age boy who presented internalizing symptoms, whose treatment was interrupted after 22 months. Participants were the patient and the therapist. The Child Psychotherapy Q-Set was used to analyze the therapeutic process. The results showed the characteristics of the therapist-patient relationship and its transformations. Factors such as family conflicts, therapeutic alliance with the parents, limitation to the ability to mentor the boy, countertransference, skills, and adjustment of the therapist to the patient impacted the therapeutic process, contributing to the observed outcome. In order to clarify the questions about the effectiveness and mechanisms of change in psychodynamic psychotherapy, and for the establishment of a consistent base of evidence, it is essential to know, in fact, what happens and how it happens in the clinical setting.

Problemas de internalización son frecuentes en niños, pero los ingredientes activos que hacen que una psicoterapia sea efectiva todavía son pobremente comprendidos. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el proceso terapéutico psicodinámico de un niño en edad escolar que presentaba síntomas de internalización y cuyo tratamiento fue interrumpido después de 22 meses. Los participantes fueron el paciente y su terapeuta. El Child Psychotherapy Q-Set fue utilizado para analizar el proceso terapéutico. Los resultados mostraron las características de la relación terapeuta-paciente y sus transformaciones. Factores como conflictos familiares, alianza terapéutica con los padres, limitación de la capacidad de mentalización del niño, contratransferencia, habilidades y ajustamiento de la terapeuta al paciente tuvieron impacto en el proceso terapéutico, contribuyendo para el desenlace observado. Para elucidar cuestiones en abierto acerca de la efectividad y de los mecanismos de cambio de la psicoterapia psicodinámica, y para el establecimiento de una base de evidencias consistente, es imprescindible que se sepa, de hecho, qué ocurre y cómo ocurre el setting clínico.

Borderline personality disorder in a community setting: service users' experiences of the therapeutic relationship with mental health nurses.

People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) suffer from severe symptoms and crises that put their lives at risk. BPD's symptoms make it difficult for nurses to establish good therapeutic relationships with people who suffer from it, thus hindering their recovery and contributing to stigma. We explored the experiences of people with BPD who were under the care of mental health nurses at a community mental health centre and who reported a reduction in distress. Our goal was to identify the actions and psychotherapeutic factors of the therapeutic relationship that people with BPD considered to be useful in their recovery. Our qualitative approach made it possible for us to learn about individual experiences and meanings and describe the perception of participants. Our sample included 12 participants. Data consisted of qualitative interviews with all participants and nursing records for six of the participants. We conducted an inductive thematic content analysis, resulting in a hierarchical system of subthemes and themes. We found that participants considered the following psychotherapeutic actions to be useful in recovery: learning about the disorder, building trust, and being empowered through validation.

Interaction structures in the psychodynamic psychotherapy of a patient with chronic diseases and somatic symptoms / Estruturas de interação na psicoterapia psicodinâmica de uma paciente com doenças crônicas e sintomas somáticos

Abstract Objective This study aimed to identify and analyze the interaction structures (ISs) (patterns of reciprocal interaction between the patient-therapist dyad) that characterize the process of a successful long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (28 months) of a patient with chronic diseases (lupus and fibromyalgia) and somatic symptoms. Methods The 113 sessions were videotaped and analyzed alternately (n = 60) by independent judges using the Psychotherapy Process Q-Set. Inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.60 to 0.90, with a mean of r = 0.71 (Pearson's correlation). Through a principal component exploratory factor analysis, four ISs were identified. Result The patterns of interaction between patient and therapist showed clinical validity (i.e., they were easily interpretable in the context of the case under study). The ISs were non-linear and more or less prominent across different treatment sessions and stages. Some ISs were similar to those in other studies, and others were probably unique to the present process. In addition, some ISs were independent, whereas others were interrelated over time. Conclusion Process studies, such as the present one, seek to address questions about the characteristics of the interaction between patient and therapist as well as to identify particular patterns of interaction that are most prominent with a specific patient at a specific condition or time. Therefore, these studies can provide some support in establishing knowledge for clinical practice, assisting in the training of therapists, as well as in the elaboration of general guidelines for the technical management of patients with specific characteristics.

Resumo Objetivo Este estudo objetivou identificar e analisar as estruturas de interação (interaction structures [ISs]) (padrões de interação recíproca entre a dupla paciente-terapeuta) que caracterizam o processo de uma psicoterapia psicodinâmica de longa duração (28 meses) de uma paciente com doenças crônicas (lúpus e fibromialgia) e sintomas somáticos. Métodos As 113 sessões foram filmadas e analisadas alternadamente (n = 60) por juízes independentes usando o Psychotherapy Process Q-Set. A confiabilidade entre avaliadores variou de 0.60 a 0.90, com média de r = 0.71 (correlação de Pearson). Por meio de uma análise fatorial exploratória do componente principal, foram identificadas quatro ISs. Resultados Os padrões de interação entre paciente e terapeuta mostraram validade clínica (ou seja, foram facilmente interpretáveis no contexto do caso em estudo). As ISs foram não lineares e mais ou menos proeminentes em diferentes sessões e etapas do tratamento. Algumas ISs foram semelhantes às de outros estudos, e outras provavelmente foram exclusivas do presente processo. Além disso, algumas ISs eram independentes, enquanto outras estavam inter-relacionadas ao longo do tempo. Conclusão Estudos de processo como o presente procuram abordar questões sobre as características da interação entre paciente e terapeuta, bem como identificar padrões particulares de interação que são mais proeminentes com um determinado paciente em condições ou momentos específicos. Portanto, esses estudos podem fornecer suporte ao estabelecimento de conhecimentos para a prática clínica, auxiliando na formação de terapeutas, bem como na elaboração de diretrizes gerais para o manejo técnico de pacientes com características específicas.

Handling suicidal crises in psychodynamic psychotherapy: A process case study.

The core characteristics of patients with a borderline personality disorder (BPD) affect the therapeutic relationship and frequently lead psychodynamic therapists to adapt interventions to manage crises. This study aims to increase knowledge of how such crises affect the therapeutic process. Using her therapist's notes, combined with the Psychotherapy Process Q-Set, we studied the therapeutic process of the first 44 therapy sessions of a female BPD patient with many depressive-like symptoms, including a disruptive period that included hospitalization. We found marked differences between different phases of therapy (before a crisis, acute disorganization, hospitalization, and back to the consulting room). The analysis suggests that a crisis and hospitalization may occur without necessarily damaging the therapeutic process. The therapist's ability to tolerate aggression, to explore and contain suicide wishes and behaviors, and to flexibly adapt techniques to patient needs, are among the therapeutic attitudes and behaviors that can help restore an effective psychodynamic process.

Metacognition as a Predictor of Improvements in Personality Disorders.

Personality Disorders (PDs) are particularly hard to treat and treatment drop-out rates are high. Several authors have agreed that psychotherapy is more successful when it focuses on the core of personality pathology. For this reason, therapists dealing with PDs need to understand the psychopathological variables that characterize this pathology and exactly what contributes to maintaining psychopathological processes. Moreover, several authors have noted that one key problem that characterizes all PDs is an impairment in understanding mental states - here termed metacognition - which could also be responsible for therapy failures. Unfortunately, a limited number of studies have investigated the role of mentalization in the process of change during psychotherapy. In this paper, we assume that poor metacognition corresponds to a core element of the general pathology of personality, impacts a series of clinical variables, generates symptoms and interpersonal problems, and causes treatment to be slower and less effective. We explored whether changes in metacognition predicted an improvement among different psychopathological variables characterizing PDs; 193 outpatients were treated at the Third Center of Cognitive Psychotherapy in Rome, Italy, and followed a structured path tailored for the different psychopathological variables that emerged from a comprehensive psychodiagnostic assessment that considered patients' symptoms, metacognitive abilities, interpersonal relationships, personality psychopathology, and global functioning. The measurements were repeated after a year of treatment. The results showed that changes in metacognitive abilities predicted improvements in the analyzed variables.

Interactive dynamics among therapist interventions, therapeutic alliance and metacognition in the early stages of the psychotherapeutic process.

OBJECTIVE: Several authors have identified a bidirectional link between patient metacognitive functioning and the therapeutic alliance. Specifically, metacognition might be enhanced by a positive alliance with the clinician, whereas metacognitive deficits might impede the alliance. Interestingly, the therapist's technical interventions might influence both therapeutic alliance and metacognitive functioning. However, little is known about the interactions between these dimensions. The aim of the present study is to explore these interactions more fully in the earliest phase of the therapeutic process. METHOD: Participants included 24 patients and 12 therapists in training. The Metacognition Assessment Scale-Revised, Collaborative Interaction Scale, and Psychodynamic Intervention Rating Scale were employed in the first three sessions of psychotherapy. RESULTS: Sequential analyses revealed that different therapist interventions co-occurred with three different levels of the therapeutic alliance: A first level characterized by a positive collaboration, a second characterized by a neutral collaboration, and a third characterized by ruptures. Importantly, the patient's metacognitive functioning was found to mediate the relationship between the therapeutic intervention and the therapeutic alliance in the positive and neutral levels of collaboration but not in the ruptures one. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a specific interdependence exists among the therapeutic alliance, technical intervention, and metacognitive functioning.

Manifestações contratransferenciais no processo terapêutico de uma paciente com personalidade borderline / Countertransferential manifestations in the therapeutic process of a patient with borderline personality / Manifestaciones contratransferenciales en el proceso terapéutico de una paciente con personalidad borderline

Pacientes com transtorno de personalidade borderline (TPB) são tipicamente instáveis e intensos em seus afetos e comportamentos, facilmente despertando reações emocionais negativas em seus terapeutas. Desse modo, manejar a contratransferência é fundamental para a psicoterapia com esses pacientes. Este estudo de caso sistemático visa descrever as manifestações contratransferenciais no processo terapêutico do primeiro ano de uma terapia psicanalítica de uma paciente com TPB, ampliando o conhecimento empírico sobre como a contratransferência interage com as variáveis do paciente. As sessões (n = 59) foram codificadas por duplas de juízes independentes treinados com o Psychotherapy Process Q-Set (PQS), um q-sort de 100 itens que fornece descrição das variáveis do paciente, do terapeuta e da interação terapêutica que caracterizam o tratamento. Experts em psicoterapia psicanalítica selecionaram seis itens do PQS como indicadores de reações contratransferenciais e 12, como indicadores de estados mentais e comportamentos característicos de pacientes com TPB. Esses itens foram examinados em relação ao tempo. Os achados revelam a predominância de atitudes terapêuticas compatíveis com uma contratransferência positiva. As implicações clínicas dos achados são discutidas. (AU)

Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are typically unstable and intense in their feelings and behaviors, easily arousing negative emotional reactions in their therapists. Therefore, managing countertransference is essential for psychotherapy with these patients. The present systematic case study aims to describe countertransferential manifestations in the therapeutic process of the first year of a psychoanalytical therapy with a BPD patient, broadening the empirical knowledge on how countertransference interacts with the patient's variables. The sessions (n=59) were codified by pairs of independent judges trained with the Psychotherapy Process Q-Set (PQS), a q-sort with 100 items that give a description of the patient, the therapist and of the interaction variables that typify the treatment. Experts in psychoanalytical psychotherapy selected six PQS items as indicative of countertransferential reactions and 12, as indicators of mental states and behaviors characteristic of patients with BPD. These items were examined in relation to time. Findings reveal predominance of therapeutic attitudes compatible with positive countertransference. (AU)

Pacientes con trastorno de personalidad borderline (TPB) son típicamente inestables e intensos en los afectos y comportamientos, y despiertan fácilmente reacciones emocionales negativas en los terapeutas. Por lo tanto es fundamental manejar la contratransferencia en la psicoterapia con estos pacientes. Este estudio de caso sistemático pretende describir las manifestaciones contratransferenciales en el proceso terapéutico del primer año de una terapia psicoanalítica de un paciente con TPB, ampliando el conocimiento empírico sobre, cómo la contratransferencia interactúa con las variables del paciente. Las sesiones (n=59) fueron codificadas por duplas de jueces independientes, entrenados con el Psycoterapy Process Q-Set (PQS), un q-sort de 100 ítems que proporcionan descripción de las variables del paciente, del terapeuta y de la interacción terapéutica que caracterizan el tratamiento. Expertos en psicoterapia psicoanalítica seleccionaron 6 ítems del PQS como indicadores de reacciones contratransferenciales y 12, como indicadores de estados mentales y comportamientos característicos de pacientes con TPB. Estos ítems fueron examinados con relación al tiempo y los resultados revelan predominio de actitudes terapéuticas compatibles con una contratransferencia positiva. Se discuten las implicaciones clínicas de los resultados. (AU)

Child Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Therapist Pregnancy: Systematic Case Study / Psicoterapia Psicodinâmica de Crianças e Gravidez da Terapeuta: Estudo de Caso Sistemático / Psicoterapia Psicodinámica de Niños y Embarazo de Terapeuta: Estudio de Caso Sistemático

Abstract The present study aimed to describe the characteristics of the psychodynamic psychotherapeutic process of a child with a pregnant therapist and to identify possible repercussions of this pregnancy in the treatment. A descriptive, longitudinal study was conducted, based on systematic single case study procedure. The participants were an eight-year-old girl and her therapist who became pregnant during treatment. Forty psychotherapeutic sessions were analyzed through Child Psychotherapy Q-Set procedure. The therapeutic process was divided into four periods related to the therapist's pregnancy: (1) the therapist was not pregnant; (2) therapist knew of her pregnancy but the topic had not been verbalized; (3) the pregnancy was treated in the therapeutic setting; (4) return of maternity leave. The results demonstrated that the therapist has adopted a less neutral stance, used less limits, and breaks and pauses in treatment were increasingly discussed. It was concluded that the therapist´s pregnancy influences the therapeutic setting in a marked way.

Resumo O presente estudo buscou descrever as características do processo psicoterápico psicodinâmico de uma criança com uma terapeuta grávida e identificar possíveis repercussões dessa gravidez no tratamento. Realizou-se um estudo descritivo, longitudinal, baseado no procedimento de estudo de caso único sistemático. Participaram uma menina de oito anos de idade e sua terapeuta que engravidou durante o tratamento. Foram analisadas 40 sessões da psicoterapia por meio do Child Psychotherapy Q-Set. O processo terapêutico foi dividido em quatro períodos de acordo com a gravidez da terapeuta: (1) terapeuta não estava grávida; (2) terapeuta sabia de sua gestação, mas o assunto não havia sido verbalizado; (3) assunto foi tratado no setting terapêutico; (4) retorno da licença maternidade. Os resultados demonstraram uma diminuição da neutralidade e da colocação de limites, discussão de pausas e interrupções no tratamento. Concluiu-se que a gravidez da terapeuta influencia o setting terapêutico de forma acentuada.

Resumen El presente estudio buscó describir las características del proceso psicoterápico psicodinámico de una niña con una terapeuta embarazada e identificar posibles repercusiones de ese embarazo en el tratamiento. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, basado en el procedimiento de estudio de caso único sistemático. Participaron una niña de ocho años de edad y su terapeuta que se quedó embarazada durante el tratamiento. Se analizaron 40 sesiones de la psicoterapia a través del Child Psychotherapy Q-Set. El proceso terapéutico se dividió en cuatro períodos de acuerdo con el embarazo de la terapeuta: (1) terapeuta no estaba embarazada; (2) terapeuta sabía de su gestación, pero el asunto no había sido verbalizado; (3) tema fue tratado en el setting terapéutico; (4) retorno de la licencia por maternidad. Los resultados demostraron una disminución de la neutralidad y de la colocación de límites, y discusión de pausas e interrupciones en el tratamiento. Se concluyó que el embarazo de la terapeuta influye en el setting terapéutico de forma acentuada.

Spanish Adaptation and Validation of the Outcome Questionnaire OQ-30.2.

This study assessed the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Shortened Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-30.2, Lambert et al., 2004) validated with a sample of 546 patients in an outpatient mental health clinic and 100 non-clinical adults in Chile. Our results show that this measure has similar normative data to the original measure, with a cutoff score for the Chilean population set at 43.36, and the reliable change index at 14. This Spanish OQ-30.2 has good internal consistency (α = 0.90), has concurrent validity with the Depressive, Anxious, and Somatoform disorders measuring scale (Alvarado and Vera, 1991), and is sensitive to change during psychotherapy. Consistent with previous studies, factorial analyses showed that both, the one-factor solution for a general scale and the three-factor solution containing three theoretical scales yielded poor fit estimates. Overall, our results are similar to past research on the OQ-45 and the OQ-30. The short version has adequate psychometric properties, comparable to those of the OQ-45, but provides a gain in application time that could be relevant in the setting of psychotherapy research with large samples, frequent assessments over time, and/or samples that may require more assistance completing items (e.g., low-literacy). We conclude that this measure will be a valuable instrument for research and clinical practice.

Como ocorre a mudança em psicoterapia? Um estudo empírico do processo de uma psicoterapia breve / How change occurs in psychotherapy? An empirical study of a brief psychotherapy process / ¿Como ocurre el cambio en la psicoterapia? Un estudio empírico del proceso de una psicoterapia breve

Este estudo visa descrever o processo psicoterapêutico de um caso de Psicoterapia Psicodinâmica Breve (PPB) e examinar a relação entre as variáveis do processo com o curso do tratamento. O caso era de uma paciente com queixas depressivas e sintomas somáticos, atendida por psicoterapeuta experiente. Para avaliação do processo terapêutico, todas as sessões do tratamento (n=11) foram classificadas com o Psychotherapy Process Q-Set (PQS). As médias dos 100 itens do PQS em todo o tratamento foram ordenadas para identificar os itens mais e menos característicos do processo. Para examinar quais as variáveis da terapeuta, da paciente e da interação se modificaram no transcorrer do tratamento, os itens do PQS foram correlacionados com o número da sessão. As características gerais são consistentes com o pressuposto da existência de um continnum expressivo-suportivo nas psicoterapias psicodinâmicas. Conforme o processo evoluiu, constatou-se uma tendência crescente da terapeuta em adotar uma postura mais apoiadora e menos expressiva, enquanto observou-se autonomia crescente da paciente. O movimento complementar da díade associado à flexibilidade da técnica parecem ter contribuído para a mudança observada.

This study aims at describing the psychotherapeutic process of a Brief Psychodynamic Psychotherapy case and to examine the relationship between process variables and treatment course. The case is of a patient with depressive symptoms and somatic complaints treated by an experienced psychotherapist. For the therapeutic process evaluation, all treatment sessions (n=11) were rated with the Psychotherapy Process Q-Set (PQS). The means of PQS in the entire treatment were sorted to identify the most and the least characteristic items of the process. To examine which variables of the therapist, of the patient, and of the interaction have changed over the course of treatment, the PQS items were correlated with the session number. The process' general characteristics are consistent with the assumption of a supportive-expressive continuum in psychodynamic psychotherapies. As the process progressed, it was noticed that the therapist adopted a more supportive and less expressive attitude, and that patient became more autonomous. The complementary roles of the dyad associated with technical flexibility seem to contribute to the observed changes.

Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir el proceso psicoterapéutico de un caso de Psicoterapia Psicodinámica Breve y examinar la relación entre las variables del proceso y el curso del tratamiento. El caso es de una paciente con síntomas de depresión y quejas somáticas atendida por una experimentada psicoterapeuta. Para la evaluación del proceso terapéutico, todas las sesiones de tratamiento (n=11) fueron clasificadas con el Psychotherapy Process Q-Set (PQS). Las medias del PQS durante todo el tratamiento fueron ordenadas para identificar ítems más y menos característicos del proceso. Para analizar las variables de la terapeuta, de la paciente y de la interacción que cambiaron en el curso del tratamiento, los ítems del PQS fueron correlacionados con el número de la sesión. Las características generales del proceso son consistentes con la hipótesis de la existencia de un continuo de apoyo y expresión en las psicoterapias psicodinámicas. A medida que el proceso se desarrolló, hubo una tendencia cada vez mayor de la terapeuta a adoptar una postura más apoyadora y menos expresiva, mientras había una creciente autonomía del paciente. El movimiento complementar de la díada, asociado a la flexibilidad técnica parecen ter contribuido para el cambio observado.

Extreme deviations from expected recovery curves and their associations with therapeutic alliance, social support, motivation, and life events in psychosomatic in-patient therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Within the clinical support tools (CST) of the OQ-Analyst, the "Assessment for Signal Cases" (ASC) evaluates the therapeutic alliance, social support, motivation, and life events. We investigated whether the ASC covers domains of importance in treatment weeks with extreme deviations from expected recovery curves (ERCs). METHODS: Psychosomatic in-patients were monitored weekly with the ASC and the "Outcome Questionnaire" (OQ-45). The ERCs of the OQ-45 empirical algorithm were used to define treatment weeks with extreme positive deviations (EPD), extreme negative deviations (END), or without extreme deviations (NO). Associations between the ASC scales and EPD as well as END were analyzed by multilevel models. RESULTS: While each ASC scale was positively associated with EPD, only the social support and life events scales were negatively related to END. CONCLUSIONS: CSTs prioritizing social support and life events might be more effective in preventing treatment failure.

The therapeutic process in psychological treatments for eating disorders: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: For eating disorders, a vast number of investigations have demonstrated the efficacy of psychological treatments. However, evidence supporting the impact of therapeutic process aspects on outcome (i.e., process-outcome research) has not been disentangled. METHOD: Using the Generic Model of Psychotherapy (GMP) to organize various process aspects, a systematic literature search was conducted on psychological treatment studies for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified. RESULTS: Improved outcomes resulted for family-based treatment compared to individual treatment, for individual compared to group treatment, booster sessions, and positive patient expectations (GMP contract aspect); for nutritional counseling and exercising but not exposure with response prevention as adjunct interventions (therapeutic operations); for highly motivated patients and, to a lesser extent, for therapeutic alliance (therapeutic bond); as well as for rapid response and longer overall treatment duration (temporal patterns). Regarding other GMP aspects, studies on self-relatedness were completely lacking and in-session impacts were rarely investigated. DISCUSSION: As most studies assessed only a limited number of process aspects, the ability to draw conclusions about their overall impact regarding outcome is rather limited. Therefore, future process-outcome research is needed beyond investigations of treatment efficacy for eating disorders.

Psychodynamic therapy from the perspective of self-organization. a concept of change and a methodological approach for empirical examination.

UNLABELLED: Observations from therapeutic practice and a series of empirical findings, for example, those on discontinuous change in psychotherapeutic processes, suggest modelling the therapeutic process as a self-organizing system with stable and critical instable phases and abrupt transitions. Here, a concept of psychotherapeutic change is presented that applies self-organization theory to psychodynamic principles. The authors explain the observations and considerations that form the basis of the concept and present some connections with existing findings and concepts. On the basis of this model, they generated two hypotheses regarding the co-occurrence of instability and discontinuous change and the degree of synchrony between the therapist and patient. A study design to test these hypotheses was developed and applied to a single case (psychodynamic therapy). After each session, patient and therapist rated their interaction. A measure of instability was calculated across the resulting time series. Sequences of destabilization were observed. On the basis of points of extreme instability, the process was divided into phases. Local instability maxima were accompanied by significant discontinuous change. Destabilization was highly synchronous in therapist and patient ratings. The authors discussed the concept and the methodological procedure. The approach enables the operationalization of crises and to empirically assess the significance of critical phases and developments within the therapeutic relationship. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: We present a concept of change that applies self-organization theory to psychodynamic therapy. We empirically tested the hypotheses formulated in the concept based on an extract of 125 long-term psychodynamic therapy sessions. We continuously monitored the therapeutic interaction and calculated a measure of the instability of the assessments. We identified several sequences of stable and unstable episodes. Episodes of high instability were accompanied by discontinuous change. On the basis of these episodes of high instability, we divided the process into four phases. Mean values of variables differed across these phases. Destabilization proved to be highly synchronous in therapist and patient ratings. The approach allows to empirically assess critical phases and developments within the therapeutic relationship.

Evolução dos modelos de pesquisa em psicoterapia / The evolution of psychotherapy research models

O presente estudo apresenta uma revisão não sistemática da literatura sobre estudos de avaliação em psicoterapia, descrevendo e discutindo as três principais formas para realizá-la: eficácia, efetividade e processo. Os resultados revelaram uma expressiva evolução no curso das pesquisas sobre o tema, desde os pioneiros, passando pelos estudos de eficácia e efetividade (ainda presentes e dominantes) e chegando ao estudo do processo psicoterápico, especialmente com estudos de caso que são realizados de diversas maneiras pelos autores. Porém, também é possível constatar que ainda existem muitas dúvidas e perguntas sem respostas no campo da pesquisa em avaliação de psicoterapia. É possível que novas investigações sobre processo psicoterápico possam contribuir para diminuir estas lacunas.

This study presents a non-systematic review of literature on psychotherapy assessment studies, describing and discussing the three main features for its undertaking: efficiency, effectiveness and process. The results showed a significant evolution in the development of research on the subject beginning with pioneering studies, progressing through efficiency and effectiveness studies (which are still current and dominant) and arriving at the study of the psychotherapy process, especially through case studies conducted in a variety of fashions. However, it may also be observed that many doubts and unanswered questions persist in the psychotherapy assessment research field. New investigations into the psychotherapeutic process may help to close these gaps.