Interpersonal problems as predictors of alliance, symptomatic improvement and premature termination in treatment of depression

Ulrike Dinger, Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Kevin S. McCarthy, Marna S. Barrett, Jacques P. Barber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background Previous studies reported inconsistent findings regarding the association of interpersonal problems with therapy outcome. The current study investigates if interpersonal problems predict process and outcome of three different treatments for depression. Methods The data originate from a randomized clinical trial comparing supportive-expressive psychotherapy, antidepressant medication and pill-placebo for treatment of depression. Interpersonal problems were used as predictors of alliance, symptomatic improvement and premature termination of treatment. Results Interpersonal problems related to communion predicted better alliances, but slower symptomatic improvement. Low agency predicted slower symptomatic improvement in supportive-expressive psychotherapy, but not in the medication or placebo condition. Lower interpersonal distress was associated with an increased likelihood to terminate treatment prematurely. Limitations The sample size did not allow the detection of small effects within the treatment groups. Conclusions Interpersonal problems are influential for the treatment of depression, but parts of their effects depend on the type of treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)800-803
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Affective Disorders
Volume151
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2013
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The original study was conducted with support from NIMH grant R01 MH 061410 to J. P. Barber (P.I.). The sertraline and pill placebos were provided by a grant from Pfizer Corp. The current study was written with support from the German Research Foundation , grant number: DI 1690/2 to U. Dinger.

Funding Information:
Dr. Dinger has received funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). Dr. Barber has received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); authors' fees from Guilford Press, Basic Books, and Cambridge University Press; and honoraria from Lundbeck. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Interpersonal problems
  • Psychotherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Interpersonal problems as predictors of alliance, symptomatic improvement and premature termination in treatment of depression'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this