Validation of the Affect Integration Inventory Short Form (AII-SF-42)

Affect integration, denoting the capacity to utilize the motivational- and signal properties of affects, is essential to adaptive psychological functioning. Affect integration is commonly operationalized and assessed with the self-rated Affect Integration Inventory (AII). This study tested the concurrent and construct validity of a short-form version (AII-SF-42) against the long-form version in a nonclinical reference sample comprising 157 Norwegian respondents. We conducted analyses of reliability, standardized mean differences and associations between short- and long-forms, assessment of internal structure by confirmatory factor analyses, and assessment of external validity by tests of associations with emotion regulation, alexithymia, psychiatric symptoms, and interpersonal problems. Results demonstrated high reliability and validity for the AII-SF-42, including high internal consistency and correspondence with long-form scores, a theoretically consistent factor structure organized according to discrete affects, and theoretically consistent patterns of convergent and discriminant associations with external criteria, including distinct sinusoidal patterns of relationships between AII-SF-42 affect scores and specific interpersonal problem types. Overall, findings indicate that the AII-SF-42 is a viable alternative to the AII in conditions where completion of longer instruments might be unfeasible (AU)

Quality of working alliance in psychotherapy: therapist variables and patient/therapist similarity as predictors.

Therapist characteristics were explored as possible predictors of working alliance, rated early and later in therapy both by therapists (n=59) and patients (n=270) in an ongoing multisite project on process and outcome of psychotherapy. Patients and therapists had divergent perspectives on the working alliance. Therapists' experience, training, skill, and progress as therapists did not have any significant impact on alliance as rated by patients. Training and skill were positively related to alliance as rated by therapists. Interpersonal relationships on the cold-warm dimension had a moderate impact for both patients' and therapists' alliance ratings. Some implications for therapist training are discussed.

Schemas, affect consciousness, and cluster C personality pathology: a prospective one-year follow-up study of patients in a schema-focused short-term treatment program.

In this prospective study the aim was to investigate the relationship between affect consciousness and Cluster C personality pathology (DSM-IV, Axis-II). Forty-four patients with panic disorder and/or agoraphobia and Cluster C personality traits were treated in a schema-focused program comprising a first panic/agoraphobia-focused phase and a second personality-focused phase, being finally assessed at a one-year follow-up. According to the treatment strategy, affect consciousness was expected to change during the second phase, independent of change in agoraphobic avoidance being focused in the first phase. Pretreatment level of affect consciousness during treatment was related to a reduction in avoidant personality pathology (not dependent or obsessive-compulsive) from pretreatment to follow-up, while increase in affect consciousness did not contribute in the same way. These results indicate that affect consciousness is important as a selection criterion, as a parameter in treatment with focus on schemas and schema-avoidance, and as a predictor for outcome in agoraphobic patients with avoidant personality pathology.

Affects and affect consciousness : initial experiences with the assessment of affect integration.

Affect consciousness (AC) was operationalized as degrees of awareness, tolerance, nonverbal expression, and conceptual expression of nine specific affects. A semistructured interview (ACI) and separate scales were developed to assess these aspects of affect integration. Their psychometric properties were preliminarily explored by having 20 former psychiatric outpatients complete the interview. Concurrent validity was assessed by using DSM-III-R Axis I and II diagnoses, the Health-Sickness Rating Scale, SCL-90-R, and several indexes from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Satisfactory interrater reliability and high levels of internal consistency supported the construct validity of the measure. Results suggest the most meaningful use of this instrument is in measuring specific affect and overall AC. Clinically, the ACI has provided highly specific and relevant qualitative data for use in planning psychotherapeutic interventions.