Growth in sense of self and sense of others predicts reduction in interpersonal problems in short-term dynamic but not in cognitive therapy.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated relationships between sense of self (SoS) and sense of others (SoO) and specific interpersonal problems in short-term dynamic and cognitive therapy.

METHOD

40 patients with Cluster C personality disorders from a RCT were included. The Achievement of Therapeutic Objective Scales (ATOS) was used to perform ratings of videotaped sessions. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex version was used as the outcome measure.

RESULTS

There were significant relationships between growth in SoS and SoO and reductions of hostile-dominant and hostile-submissive behaviors, as well as cold, social-avoidant and vindictive behaviors. Increase in SoO was also related to reductions in non-assertive and domineering behaviors. However, the results were only present in the STDP treatment group.