Improving self‐esteem through integrative group therapy for personality dysfunction: Investigating the role of the therapeutic alliance and quality of object relations. Issue 12 (23rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aafjes‐van Doorn, Katie; Kealy, David; Ehrenthal, Johannes C.; Ogrodniczuk, John S.; Joyce, Anthony S.; Weber, Rainer
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical psychology. Volume 75:Issue 12(2019)
• Page Start: 2079
• Page End: 2094
• Publication Date: 2019-07-23
• Subjects: alliance -- group treatment -- object‐relations -- personality dysfunction -- self‐esteem; Psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22832
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9762

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: We aimed to investigate change in self‐esteem through intensive group treatment for personality dysfunction, by exploring: (a) the relationship between patients' experience of therapeutic alliance and improvement in self‐esteem during treatment, including patients' quality of object‐relations (QOR) as a possible moderator; and (b) the association between improvement in self‐esteem during treatment, and depressive symptoms 9 months later. Method: Eighty patients with personality dysfunction, consecutively enrolled in a group‐oriented treatment program, were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 9 months follow‐up. Results: Especially for patients with lower QOR, alliance predicted self‐esteem change during treatment. In addition, change in self‐esteem during treatment predicted follow‐up depression severity, even when controlling for within‐treatment symptom change. Conclusions: Patients with impoverished inner relational representations may benefit more from a secure alliance in terms of improving their self‐esteem. Change in self‐esteem may also be important in preventing relapse of depressive symptoms in people with personality dysfunction.