What interpersonal problems are related to different therapeutic techniques early in treatment?

The current study seeks to explore the relationship between patient‐reported interpersonal problems and therapist interventions in early psychodynamic psychotherapy for 71 outpatients. Pretreatment ratings on the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Scales (IIP‐C) total and subscale scores were examined in relation to early treatment process. Independent clinicians reliably rated therapist use of psychodynamic–interpersonal (PI) and cognitive–behavioural (CB) interventions using the Comparative Psychotherapy Process Scale (CPPS) over two early treatment sessions (third and ninth). Intraclass correlation (ICC) values were in the excellent range for CPPS‐PI and CPPS‐CB scale scores (CPPS‐PI = 0.86; CPPS‐CB = 0.78). A significant positive correlation was found between interpersonal problems and global PI therapist technique. A significant positive correlation was also found between interpersonal problems and specific PI interventions, most significantly experience and expression of feelings in session. In specific interpersonal problem subscales, most significant was that Cold/Distant and Socially Inhibited octants positively related to global PI and to specific PI techniques, including exploration of uncomfortable feelings. Multiple regression analyses revealed most significantly that CPPS Intervention 7 (discussion of patient‐therapist relationship; positive) and CPPS Intervention 11 (therapist explanation of rationale behind treatment; negative) explained 15.6% of variance in interpersonal problem score. These findings demonstrate that the use of psychodynamic techniques tend to occur alongside patient‐reported interpersonal problems early in psychotherapy treatment. Clinical implications are discussed for this area of research, and future directions are explored.