Premium
Reconceptualization innovative moments as a predictor of symptomatology improvement in treatment for depression
Author(s) -
FernándezNavarro Pablo,
Rosa Catarina,
Sousa Inês,
Moutinho Vanessa,
Antunes Ana,
Magalhães Carina,
Ribeiro António P.,
Gonçalves Miguel M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical psychology and psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-0879
pISSN - 1063-3995
DOI - 10.1002/cpp.2306
Subject(s) - psychology , perspective (graphical) , association (psychology) , depression (economics) , depressive symptoms , psychotherapist , outcome (game theory) , clinical psychology , contrast (vision) , psychiatry , cognition , mathematics , mathematical economics , artificial intelligence , computer science , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives In previous studies, reconceptualization innovative moments were associated with successful psychotherapy. Reconceptualization has two components—(a) a positive temporal contrast between the past self and the present self (contrasting self [CS]) and (b) a description of how and/or why this change has occurred (change process [CP])—from the perspective of the client. The aim of this study is to analyse if CS and CP have the same association with outcomes as reconceptualization. Method Sixteen cases of clients with major depression (305 sessions) were analysed. Longitudinal regression models were used to explore if proportions of CS, CP, and reconceptualization predicted outcome measures and if outcome measures predicted CS, CP, and reconceptualization. Results Reconceptualization is less frequent than CS and CP taken separately, but reconceptualization was a better predictor of treatment outcomes than were its separate components. Moreover, symptom improvement did not predict reconceptualization. Conclusion The construction of new meanings is important in improving depressive symptomatology. Psychotherapists can elicit these new meanings in their regular practice by posing questions that may help clients to conceptualize what is changing in themselves (CS) and questions of how this change is occurring (CP). The construction of an integrative account of these new meanings is associated with psychotherapeutic gains, and thus, reconceptualizing change could improve symptoms of depression.