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How to address patients' defences: A pilot study of the accuracy of defence interpretations and alliance
Author(s) -
Junod Olivier,
Roten Yves,
Martinez Elena,
Drapeau Martin,
Despland JeanNicolas
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1348/147608305x41317
Subject(s) - alliance , psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , political science , law
This pilot study examined the accuracy of therapist defence interpretations (TAD) in high‐alliance patients ( N =7) and low‐alliance patients ( N =8). TAD accuracy was assessed in the two subgroups by comparing for each case the patient's most frequent defensive level with the most frequent defensive level addressed by the therapist when making defence interpretations. Results show that in high‐alliance patient‐therapist dyads, the therapists tend to address accurate or higher (more mature) defensive level than patients most frequent level. On the other hand, the therapists address lower (more immature) defensive level in low‐alliance dyads. These results are discussed along with possible ways to better assess TAD accuracy.