The role of transference work, the therapeutic alliance, and their interaction in reducing interpersonal problems among psychotherapy

patients with cluster c personality disorders

Ryum T., Stiles T.C., Svartberg M., McCullough L.
Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway Abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine whether transference work, the therapeutic alliance, and their interaction predicted a reduction in interpersonal problems at treatment termination. Forty-nine patients with Cluster C personality disorders from a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of short-term dynamic psychotherapy and cognitive therapy were included. Transference work was measured with the Inventory of Therapeutic Strategies (Gaston & Ring, 1992), while the therapeutic alliance was measured with the Helping Alliance Questionnaire (Luborsky, Crits-Christoph, Alexander, Margolis & Cohen, 1983). Less emphasis on transference work predicted overall reduced interpersonal problems, whereas the effects of the therapeutic alliance did not reach statistical significance. An interaction effect was also demonstrated, indicating that greater emphasis on transference work performed on patients with lower therapeutic alliance ratings was associated with a smaller reduction in interpersonal problems at termination. However, the results also indicate that a low dose of transference work may be beneficial in reducing interpersonal problems. 2010 American Psychological Association. Author Keywords: Interpersonal problems; The therapeutic alliance; Transference work Year: 2010 Source title: Psychotherapy Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Page : 442-453 Link: Scorpus Link Document Type: Article Source: Scopus Authors with affiliations:
1. Ryum, T., Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway 2. Stiles, T.C., Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway 3. Svartberg, M., Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway 4. McCullough, L., Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

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