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PCE2006
7th World Conference for
Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling
July 12–16, 2006, Potsdam, Germany
Topic:
Specific Dysfunctions and Clinical issues
Symposium "Client-Centered Therapy of Adjustment Disorders" (University of Hamburg, FB Psychologie, AB Gesprächspsychotherapie)
Astrid Altenhöfer, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Hamburg-Eppendorf
Reinhold Schwab, University of Hamburg, Depart. of Psychology
W. Schulz, Braunschweig University of Technology, Depart. of Psychology
Jochen Eckert, University of Hamburg, Depart. of Psychology Abstract:
Although adjustment disorders (1CD-10 F 43.2) are a very common diagnosis there is only few
empirical data available concerning the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic treatment. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the outcorne of a time limited client-centered outpatient treatment with 12 therapy sessions at most and to compare the improvements of the treatment group (N = 31) with an untreated wait group (N = 19)
that got the same treatment after a wait period of 12 weeks. All patients developed an adjustment disorder in response to one of the following events: Either the loss of an important person or the inability to perform at work or university. Results: In comparison with the untreated wait group the immediate therapy group showed significant treatment effects an rating scales
– e.g. GAF-Scale of the DSM-IV – and questionnaires – e.g. Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI
I). These effects were maintained at 3 months follow-up. Individual treatment gains were also analyzed for clinical and statistical significance and the treatment group showed again more significant improvements than the wait group. Effectsizes ranged from ES = .60 to ES = 1.59 for
the treatment group. An overall treatment gain was calculated for each patient and for only 4 (8.5%) out of 47 patients had to
be labeled low. Conclusion: The limited 12 hours individual client-centered psychotherapy proved itself an effective and sufficient treatment for patients with adjustment disorders. These findings may lead to further implications for the treatment of patients with adjustment disorders.
Astrid Altenhöfer, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Hamburg-Eppendorf
Reinhold Schwab, University of Hamburg, Department of Psychology
N.N.
Abstract:
The findings of our project – client-centered therapy in the treatment of patients with adjustment disorders
– are discussed in regard to their clinical relevance and practical benefit. The discussion will be supported by providing our (and the audience’s) experience from practice, with proposals for improving the method, including the manual usage in client-centered therapy.
Eva-Maria Biermann-Ratjen & Jochen Eckert
University of Hamburg, Institute of Psychotherapy
Abstract:
Following a definition of Adjustment disorders a guideline for the client-centred treatment of this disease in three steps is presented.
In the first phase the focus is on the self-protective processes of defense against the experience of the new burden for instance loss of the capability to concentrate, feeling depressed, anxious, angry.
In the second phase the focus is on the client`s realization of what the new burden means to: He begins to feel the existential threat, loss of self-esteem, threat to the concept of self etc. and especially the emotions going along with this.
In the third phase the client will experience a reorganization of his self-concept and self-esteem.
Nicola Gorschenek, Astrid Altenhöfer & Jochen Eckert
University of Hamburg, Department of Psychology
Abstract:
The purpose of the present research is to investigate the long term effects of a 12-session-limited person-centered therapy on patients suffering from an adjustment disorder. A total of 25 subjects were questioned two years after the end of treatment.
Past research has observed that this type of therapy has led to either a posttreatment gain or a continued suppression of negative results in the posttreatment period. The present research aims to replicate these effects from a more longitudinal standpoint, thus demonstrating that this treatment not only has beneficial short term effects but also has positive long term consequences.
Predominantly the report will focus on the course and outcome of the former patients in regard to their anxiety- and depression-scores using standardized measures. Mean-scores of four assessments (Pre, Post, 3-months- and two-year-follow-up) are compared in order to detect significant differences. It is supposed, that the two-year-follow-up results differ significantly from the preassessment in terms of improvement, possibly even exceeding these improvements. Besides it is assumed that from the postmeasurement on there are no significant deteriorations in the relevant scores. To find out at what time of measurement exactly the differences are achieved, results of post-hoc-tests will be demonstrated.
Furthermore the life-events taking place during the two-year period and their impact on the patient´s state of health and their coping behaviour will be taken into account discussing the influence on the therapy-outcome. Finally, performing several retrospective evaluation-results concerning the effectiveness of treatment on the part of the patient´s view is intended too.
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