Relazione interpersonale ed esiti terapeutici : applicazione del metodo SASB (Structural Analysis of Social Behavior)

Aim: Many studies recognize the therapeutic relationship as a crucial factor in leading outcomes in therapy (Lambert & Bergin, 1992; Norcross, 2001).The present study was designed to further a more precise understanding of the influence of interpersonal dynamics on outcome; interpersonal variables were assessed using the SASB coding model (Structural Analysis of Social Behaviour; Benjamin, 1979, 1993). Method: The present research project is made up of two researches, named Study 1 and Study 2. A group of three couples of patients with DSM-IV-R diagnosis of Mood Disorder composed the sample for Study 1. The patients of each couple received individual brief psychodynamic psychotherapy by the same therapist, and achieved different outcomes (high and low-change). Study 2’s sample was made up of two patients with the DSM-IV-R diagnosis of Mood Disorder, who received a long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Data were processed with descriptive statistics analyses, conducted to assess interpersonal behaviour’s course state for each dyad. Besides, log-linear and sequential analyses were conducted to assess the particular interpersonal transactions of each outcome group. Results-Study 1: Patients in the poor-outcome group are marked by constant difficulties in accepting the dependence on their therapists. These patients begins therapy with significantly high levels of avoiding behaviours and hostile submission. Moreover, they show poor acceptance of therapist’s controlling behaviours. Study 2: This study partly replicates the previous study’s results, especially about poor outcome dyad’s ones. Conclusion: Therapeutic relationship’s quality could act as a go-between of the efficacy of the other kind of therapeutic interventions.