[Using the method of central relationship conflict topic in a study of the process and outcome of long-term inpatient group psychotherapy].

Within a research project dealing with the process and outcome of inpatient group psychotherapy, the core conflictual relationship theme method (CCRT) was used to determine if the central basic interpersonal problems of patients differ in comparison of individual pre- and postreatment sessions, if the CCRT determined at the beginning of treatment is related to outcome, and if there is a similarity between the CCRT from individual and group sessions. Comparisons of the CRRT(-components) from the beginning and the end of treatment (related to 19 patients) indicated marked changes on the levels of wishes and responses from others as well as "formal" changes of the narratives (temporal relations as well as the objects mentioned). The second part of the study (n = 26) revealed differences between subgroups determined on the basis of differential outcome measures with respect to the structure of their conflicts. The similarity of the CCRT from group and individual sessions which was studied for nine patients appeared to be moderate. The study revealed that the CCRT might need some minor revisions but appears to be an important method to thoroughly describe the effects of psychotherapies.