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Improving self‐esteem through integrative group therapy for personality dysfunction: Investigating the role of the therapeutic alliance and quality of object relations
Author(s) -
Aafjesvan Doorn Katie,
Kealy David,
Ehrenthal Johannes C.,
Ogrodniczuk John S.,
Joyce Anthony S.,
Weber Rainer
Publication year - 2019
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.22832
Subject(s) - moderation , psychology , object relations theory , alliance , self esteem , personality , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , group psychotherapy , social psychology , psychoanalytic theory , political science , law
Objective We aimed to investigate change in self‐esteem through intensive group treatment for personality dysfunction, by exploring: (a) the relationship between patients’ experience of therapeutic alliance and improvement in self‐esteem during treatment, including patients’ quality of object‐relations (QOR) as a possible moderator; and (b) the association between improvement in self‐esteem during treatment, and depressive symptoms 9 months later. Method Eighty patients with personality dysfunction, consecutively enrolled in a group‐oriented treatment program, were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 9 months follow‐up. Results Especially for patients with lower QOR, alliance predicted self‐esteem change during treatment. In addition, change in self‐esteem during treatment predicted follow‐up depression severity, even when controlling for within‐treatment symptom change. Conclusions Patients with impoverished inner relational representations may benefit more from a secure alliance in terms of improving their self‐esteem. Change in self‐esteem may also be important in preventing relapse of depressive symptoms in people with personality dysfunction.