Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2004. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-105).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2004. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-136). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ99154

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-108) and index.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-80).

No description available.

Maladaptive interpersonal functioning is considered typical of eating disorders. The present thesis aimed to add to existing knowledge of interpersonal functioning in the eating disorders in terms of both symptomatology and treatment. In Study 1, relationships were found between eating disorder attitudes and several types of poor interpersonal functioning. These associations were present when controlling for depression and anxiety. Study 2 found that generalised interpersonal problems were more likely to be reported by women with bulimic disorders than comparison women, apart from problems with being too open, which were more likely to be reported by comparison women. In Study 3, individuals with self identified eating disorders were found to have poorer problem solving skills in specific interpersonal situations than healthy controls, generating less means to solve the problem, with these means being significantly less effective and less specific than those generated by healthy controls. In Study 4, the experience of an invalidating childhood environment was explored as a potential predictor of adult interpersonal problems in the eating disorders. Viewing the expression of emotions as a sign of weakness was a mediator of the relationship between having a more invalidating mother and adult eating concern in a nonclinical population. In Study 5, the interpersonal experiences of patients with bulimic disorders are explored using qualitative methodology. They report a range of problems characterised by social avoidance, social anxiety, non-assertiveness, and a difficulty with being genuine in relationships. In Study 6, patients reported their experiences of interpersonal psychotherapy for bulimic disorders. In general, they experienced the therapy as positive and beneficial. They express that it helped them address a range of interpersonal problems, and reduced but did not cure their eating disordered behaviours. Patients liked that therapy focused on both interpersonal relationships and eating. In Study 7, interpersonal psychotherapists discussed their perceptions of the modified therapy. They identified several factors as being related to outcome, such as the existence or willingness to build a support network, motivation to change, a clear interpersonal problem identified in the patient, level of depression, duration of the eating disorder and keeping therapy focused on the interpersonal. Results of these studies suggest that those with higher levels of eating disorder related attitudes and behaviours often have significant problems with interpersonal functioning. This thesis supports the use of interpersonal psychotherapy as a viable treatment approach to the eating disorders. It also supports the use of the modified version of the therapy, which addresses eating as well as interpersonal functioning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Despite evidence for the efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for depression, there remains little understanding of its specific change-promoting ingredients. This study aimed to establish candidate change mechanisms by identifying whether patients’ interpersonal (theory-specific) and cognitive (theory-nonspecific) characteristics change in an adaptive direction during IPT, and whether such changes differentially relate to depression reduction and improvement in global functioning. The four interpersonal variables and one cognitive variable measured all changed significantly in an adaptive direction, with medium to large effect sizes. Reduced interpersonal problems were marginally associated with self-reported depression reduction (β = 2.846, p = .062), and greater satisfaction with social support was marginally associated with depression reduction (β = -1.423, p = .081). Unexpectedly, reduced romantic relationship adjustment was related to depression reduction (β = 2.028, p = .008 for self-rated depression and β = 1.474, p = .022 for clinician-rated depression), and increased attachment avoidance was marginally related to better clinician-rated global functioning (β = 1.501, p = .09). Thus, theory-relevant interpersonal variables emerged as candidate change mechanisms, and the findings are discussed with respect to their research and practice implications.

La dépression majeure est un non-sens pour une personne qui en souffre et influence probablement sa motivation au retour au travail, car elle favorise chez elle une identité de malade et par conséquent un sentiment d’être inadéquat. Au Québec et au Canada, cette pathologie est la principale cause d’années vécues avec invalidité ainsi que de décès prématurés. Il apparaît donc pertinent de vérifier si un traitement spécialisé de la dépression majeure comme la psychothérapie interpersonnelle (PTI) pourrait favoriser la motivation au retour au travail d’une personne. Cette approche semble prometteuse pour diverses raisons : 1) elle cible un événement interpersonnel souvent considéré comme un des facteurs déterminants dans l’émergence de cette maladie; 2) elle repose sur des données probantes pour le soulagement des symptômes de dépression majeure; 3) elle ne considère que transitoirement l’identité de malade; 4) elle facilite l’acquisition de stratégies d’adaptation interpersonnelle. La présente étude exploratoire de la contribution de la PTI sur la motivation au retour au travail de personnes en dépression majeure retient la méthodologie de l’étude de cas. Elle se déroule en milieu naturel auprès de quatre personnes considérées en invalidité chronique de leur travail. Autant des données qualitatives que quantitatives sont recueillies et analysées. Les résultats obtenus montrent que trois de ces quatre personnes reprennent leur travail pendant la PTI ou à la fin du traitement alors que l’autre personne s’engage dans une démarche de réorientation. Une autre contribution de la PTI permet de constater que ces personnes ont davantage recours à un soutien social. De plus, elles ont tendance à mieux connaître leur identité ou leurs limites, à améliorer leurs habiletés à la résolution de problème ainsi que leur capacité à communiquer avec les autres. L’idée de mesurer la symptomatologie dépressive et la motivation au même moment pendant un traitement serait à conserver dans une prochaine recherche, car un lien semble s’établir entre la sévérité des symptômes de la maladie et le degré de motivation d’une personne au retour au travail.

<p>The objective of this work was to investigate reflective-functioning (RF) as a measure of process in two independent studies that included three types of brief psychotherapy. RF is defined as the ability to recognize the existence and nature of mental processes taking place in the self and in others (e.g., intentions, beliefs, desires, and wishes). Theorists have suggested the ability for RF is crucial for predicting social causality and low RF has been found related to mental disorders. It has recently been suggested in the literature that improved ability for RF might be an important component of successful psychotherapy outcome, especially with respect to achieving structuralchange. RF was in this work investigated during the process through discourse analysis of the patients’ narratives of self-other interactions in the treatment sessions. The Psychotherapy Process Q-set (PQS) was implemented in order to isolate specific components of the process (process correlates) that identified high and low RF and to investigate the links between the process correlates and outcome. The first study investigated 29 cases of cognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT) and 35 cases of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) with an average treatment length of 16.2 sessions in a sample from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) randomized clinical trial Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program (TDCRP). The sample in the first study consisted of 128 sessions in total, were one session from the early part (on average the 4th session) and one session in the later part of the treatment (on average the 12th session) were rated for RF. The second study investigated a sample of 30 cases of brief psychodynamic psychotherapy (BPDT) with an average treatment length of 15.8 sessions in a naturalistic designand obtained from the Mount Zion Psychotherapy Research Group. In total, the second study included 90 sessions of BPDT, and RF was assessed during the 1st, the 5th, and the 14th session of each treatment. The results from these two studies suggested that the patients’ ability for RF, as measured through the discourse from therapy sessions, is stable (in CBT and BPDT) or decreased(IPT) during the treatments. Furthermore, the process correlates defining high RF had a relation with good outcome, and process correlates defining low RF had a relation with poor outcome.The process correlates identified during the PQS-analysis suggested that both high and low RF was linked with personality characteristics in the patients. For example, high RF was linked to patients’ ability for introspection, expression of negative emotions, and commitment to treatment.Low RF was linked to patients’ expression of passivity, defensiveness, and suspiciousness. This work supported theorists’ suggestions that brief treatments are supportive in their nature and therefore do not promote structural changes (e.g., changes in RF). It is suggested that the abilityfor RF as assessed pre-treatment might be a useful predictor for success in brief psychotherapy and could therefore be used as a patient inclusion criteria for such treatments.</p>