QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF INTERPERSONAL THEMES OVER THE COURSE OF PSYCHOTHERAPY

This study investigated the nature of the relationship themes of a patient in psychotherapy, through the application of a new instrument. The narrative episodes told by the patient over the course of brief dynamic therapy served as the database for rating the wishes, responses from other, and responses of self. Correlations revealed the presence of multiple themes rather than a single predominant theme. In addition, while in the first half of treatment the therapist was perceived differently than all others in the patient's life, during the second half increasing similarity between the relationship with the therapist and other relationships was discovered.