HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Despland, J.-N. Articles by Perry, J. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Despland, J.-N. Articles by Perry, J. C. Related Collections Psychodynamic Therapy

Contribution of Patient Defense Mechanisms and Therapist Interventions to the Development of Early Therapeutic Alliance in a Brief Psychodynamic Investigation

Received February 14, 2000; revised January 31, 2001; accepted February 1, 2001. From the Département Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Adulte, Faculté de Médecine de Lausanne, Switzerland. Address correspondence to Dr. Perry, Director of Research, Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Chemin de la Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E4, Canada.

This preliminary study examined how patients' defense mechanisms and psychotherapists' techniques influence early alliance formation. The authors assessed the relationships among defense mechanisms, therapist interventions, and the development of alliance in a sample of 12 patients undergoing Brief Psychodynamic Investigation (4 sessions). Alliance development occurred rapidly and was clearly established by the third session. Neither defensive functioning nor supportive or exploratory interventions alone differentiated early alliance development. However, the degree of adjustment of therapists' interventions to patients' level of defensive functioning discriminated a low alliance from both improving and high alliances. The adjustment of therapeutic interventions to patients' level of defensive functioning is a promising predictor of alliance development and should be examined further, alongside other predictors of outcome.

Key Words: Therapeutic Alliance • Defense Mechanisms • Interventions

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Drapeau Research on the Processes Involved in Treating Sexual Offenders Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, April 1, 2005; 17(2): 117 - 125. [Abstract] [PDF]