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Psychotherapeutic case conceptualization using plan analysis for bipolar affective disorder
Author(s) -
Kramer Ueli,
Berger Thomas,
Caspar Franz
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.20557
Subject(s) - conceptualization , psychology , psychotherapist , coping (psychology) , bipolar disorder , plan (archaeology) , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , psychiatry , mood , archaeology , artificial intelligence , computer science , history
Valid individualized case conceptualization methodologies, such as plan analysis , are rarely used for the psychotherapeutic treatment conceptualization and planning of bipolar affective disorder (BD), even if data do exist showing that psychotherapy interventions might be enhanced by applying such analyses for treatment planning for several groups of patients. We applied plan analysis as a research tool (Caspar, 1995) to N =30 inpatients presenting BD, who were interviewed twice. Our study aimed at producing a prototypical plan structure encompassing the most relevant data from the 30 individual case conceptualizations. Special focus was given to links with emotions and coping plans. Inter‐rater reliability of these plan analyses was considered sufficient. Results suggest the presence of two subtypes based on plananalytic principles: emotion control and relationship control, along with a mixed form. These subtypes are discussed with regard to inherent plananalytic conflicts, specific emotions and coping plans, as well as symptom level and type. Finally, conclusions are drawn for enhancing psychotherapeutic practice with BD patients, based on the motive‐oriented therapeutic relationship. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1–16, 2009.