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Treatment of obsessive morbid jealousy with cognitive analytic therapy: An adjudicated hermeneutic single‐case efficacy design evaluation
Author(s) -
Curling Louise,
Kellett Stephen,
Totterdell Peter,
Parry Glenys,
Hardy Gillian,
Berry Katherine
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
psychology and psychotherapy: theory, research and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.102
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 2044-8341
pISSN - 1476-0835
DOI - 10.1111/papt.12151
Subject(s) - jealousy , nomothetic , psychology , psychotherapist , skepticism , cognition , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , nomothetic and idiographic , epistemology , philosophy
Objective The evidence base for the treatment of morbid jealousy with integrative therapies is thin. This study explored the efficacy of cognitive analytic therapy ( CAT ). Design An adjudicated hermeneutic single‐case efficacy design evaluated the cognitive analytic treatment of a patient meeting diagnostic criteria for obsessive morbid jealousy. Method A rich case record was developed using a matrix of nomothetic and ideographic quantitative and qualitative outcomes. This record was then debated by sceptic and affirmative research teams. Experienced psychotherapy researchers acted as judges, assessed the original case record, and heard the affirmative‐versus‐sceptic debate. Judges pronounced an opinion regarding the efficacy of the therapy. Results The efficacy of CAT was supported by all three judges. Each ruled that change had occurred due to the action of the therapy, beyond any level of reasonable doubt. Conclusions This research demonstrates the potential usefulness of CAT in treating morbid jealousy and suggests that CAT is conceptually well suited. Suggestions for future clinical and research directions are provided. Practitioner points The relational approach of CAT makes it a suitable therapy for morbid jealousy. The narrative reformulation component of CAT appears to facilitate early change in chronic jealousy patterns. It is helpful for therapists during sessions to use CAT theory to diagrammatically spell out the patterns maintaining jealousy.