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The role of self‐image as a predictor of psychotherapy outcome
Author(s) -
Ryum Truls,
Vogel Patrick A.,
Walderhaug Eirik P.,
Stiles Tore C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/sjop.12167
Subject(s) - psychology , self image , outcome (game theory) , anxiety , clinical psychology , interpersonal communication , depression (economics) , psychotherapist , self , agoraphobia , psychiatry , anxiety disorder , social psychology , mathematics , mathematical economics , economics , macroeconomics
The present study examined the relationship between self‐image and outcome in psychotherapy. Patients (n = 170) received treatment‐as‐usual at a university clinic, and met diagnostic criteria for mostly anxiety and depression related disorders. Self‐image was measured with the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior ( SASB ‐I) introject pre and post‐treatment. Using multiple regression analyses, higher levels of Self‐ignore and Self‐blame pre‐treatment predicted a poorer treatment outcome in terms of symptoms ( SCL ‐90‐R) and interpersonal problems ( IIP ‐64), respectively. Increase in Self‐love and decrease in Self‐blame (pre to post) predicted reduced symptoms at post‐treatment, whereas decrease in Self‐attack and Self‐control, as well as increase in Self‐affirm, predicted reduced interpersonal problems. The results suggest that self‐image improvement may be important in order to achieve a good outcome in psychotherapy.