Lyzak O. Optimization of brief psychotherapy for inpatients with anxiety disorders and comorbid states

In the dissertation, optimization of brief individual psychodynamic psychotherapy for inpatients with anxiety disorders and comorbid states is substantiated. Subjective experience and objective emotional and affective characteristics of patients whose mental structure, according to psychodynamic diagnostics and therapeutic strategy, corresponds to the borderline organization (manifest neurotic, anxiety and subdepressive disorders), were studied; core conflictual patterns of interpersonal relationships of patients, and their changes resulting from psychotherapy were analyzed. Correlations between the detected changes in relationships and improvement in the patients’ psychopathology and subjective well-being were explored. The study is based on the results of a comprehensive examination (using the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method (CCRT) in the form of a semi-structured interview; clinical and psychopathological; psychometric; follow-up; and statistical methods) of one of the largest groups of patients studied with the CCRT method – 51 patients. All the participants of the study were admitted for treatment by brief individual psychodynamic psychotherapy. The patients were examined twice – before and after therapy. Verbatim transcripts of the recorded interviews were prepared, in which patterns of conflictual relationships in specific relationship episodes were identified and their CCRTs were evaluated. The comparison of relationship patterns before and after therapy revealed improvement of interpersonal relations of patients shown in an increase of harmonious responses of other people and responses of the patients’ self from 27.52% to 40.26% and from 23.49% to 43.38%, respectively (p≤0.001). Reliable correlations were found between improvements in relationship patterns and psychopathological symptoms as well as changes in the patients’ experience and behavior after completion of psychotherapy. Statistical reliability of the effectiveness of brief inpatient individual psychodynamic psychotherapy is proved.