Change in self‐protect ion and symptoms after dynamic psychotherapy: the influence of pretreatment motivation

The First Experimental Study of Transference‐interpretations (FEST) is a dismantling, randomized clinical trial of the long‐term effects of transference interpretation. This article looks at the influence of motivation on the ability to self‐protect and symptoms. Patients were randomized to receive a moderate level of transference interpretations or no transference interpretation. Assessments were made at pretreatment, midtreatment, posttreatment, and at two follow‐ups. The outcome measure, change in ability to self‐protect, was cluster 4 of the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) Long Form Intrex Introject Questionnaire, a measure close to the SASB‐coded treatment process. Symptom change (SCL‐90) was also analyzed. Pretreatment motivation was a significant moderator of change in the ability to self‐protect and in symptom distress. Those with low motivation had a significant, positive, and long‐term treatment effect of transference interpretation. Patients with low motivation showed a significant, negative effect of transference interpretation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 67:1–13, 2011.