Associations between Grawe's general mechanisms of change and Young's early maladaptive schemas in psychotherapy research: A comparative study of change processes

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed at analyzing associations between Grawe's general mechanisms of change and Young's early maladaptive schemas (EMS). Method: Therefore, 98 patients completed the Scale for the Multiperspective Assessment of General Change Mechanisms in Psychotherapy (SACiP), the Young Shema Questionnaire-Short Form Revised (YSQ S3R), and diverse outcome measures at the beginning and end of treatment. Results: Our results are important for clinical applications, as we demonstrated strong predictive effects of change mechanisms on schema domains using regression analyses and cross-lagged panel models. Conclusions: Resource activation experiences seem to be especially crucial in fostering alterations in EMS, as this change mechanism demonstrated significant associations with several schema domains. Future research should investigate these aspects in more detail using observer-based micro-process analyses.

Obiettivo: Lo studio è volto ad analizzare le associazioni tra i meccanismi generali di cambiamento di Grawe e gli schemi maladattivi precoci di Young (EMS). Metodo: All'inizio e alla fine del trattamento, 98 pazienti hanno completato la Scale for the Multiperspective Assessment of General Change Mechanisms in Psychotherapy (SACiP), lo Young Shema Questionnaire-Short Form Revised (Short Form YSQ S3R), e diverse misure di esito. Risultati: I nostri risultati sono importanti per le applicazioni cliniche, in quanto abbiamo dimostrato i forti effetti predittivi dei meccanismi di cambiamento su domini usando le analisi di regressione e i modelli di gruppo cross-lag. Conclusioni: Le esperienze di attivazione di risorse sembrano essere particolarmente importanti nel favorire le variazioni degli EMS, così come questo meccanismo di cambiamento ha mostrato associazioni significative con diversi domini di schemi. La ricerca futura dovrebbe valutare questi aspetti in modo più dettagliato con analisi micro-processo basate sull'osservatore.

Ziel: Die vorliegende Studie zielt auf die Analyse der Zusammenhänge zwischen Grawes allgemeinen Wirkfaktoren und Youngs frühen maladaptiven Schemata (early maladaptive schemas, EMS) ab. Methode: Deswegen haben 98 Patienten die Skala zur Einschätzung allgemeiner Wirkfaktoren für multiple Perspektiven (Scale for the Multiperspective Assessment of General Change Mechanisms in Psychotherapy; SACiP), die Kurzversion des Schemafragebogens von Young (Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form Revised; YSQ S3R) sowie unterschiedliche Ergebnismaße am Anfang und am Ende der Behandlung ausgefüllt. Ergebnisse: Unsere Ergebnisse sind wichtig für klinische Anwendungen, da wir unter Nutzung von Regressionsanalysen und Cross-Lagged Panel Modellen starke prädiktive Effekte der Wirkfaktoren auf die Schemadomänen demonstriert haben. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Erfahrungen von Ressourcenaktivierung scheinen besonders entscheidend in der Förderung von Veränderungen in EMS zu sein, weil dieser Wirkfaktor signifikante Zusammenhänge mit mehreren Schemadomänen gezeigt hat. Zukünftige Forschung sollte diese Aspekte detaillierter mit Beobachter-basierten Mikroprozessanalysen untersuchen.

Objetivo: O presente estudo analisou as associações entre o mecanismo geral de mudança de Grawe e os esquemas precoces desadaptativos de Young. Método: Noventa e oito clientes preencheram a Escala de Avaliação Multiperspetiva dos Mecanismos Gerais de Mudança em Psicoterapia (EMS), o Questionário de Esquemas Precoces – Versão Curta Revista, e diversas medidas de resultado no início e no final do tratamento. Resultados: Os nossos resultados são importantes para a prática clínica já que demonstrámos fortes efeitos preditivos dos mecanismos de mudança nos domínios dos esquemas usando análises de regressão e modelos de painel de correlação cruzada. Conclusões: As experiências de ativação de recursos parecem ser especialmente cruciais em provocar alterações na EMS já que este mecanismo de mudança demonstrou associações significativas com vários domínios dos esquemas. As investigações futuras deveriam estudar estes aspetos em mais detalhe usando análises observacionais de micro-processos.

目的：本研究旨於分析Grawe的普遍改變機制理論與Young的早年適應不良基模理論(EMS)之間的關聯。方法：98位案主填答心理治療多維普遍改變歷程測驗(SACiP)、Young基模量表-簡版(YSQ S3R)、以及在治療前後填答多種成效量表。結果：我們的研究結果在臨床應用上非常重要，因為使用回歸分析及交叉延宕分析結果顯示，改變機制對各基模組皆有高度預測效力。結論：活化資源的經驗似乎對於培養早年適應不良基模的替代方案特別關鍵，因為這個改變機制與許多基模模組都呈現了顯著相關。未來研究應可使用以觀察為基礎的微觀歷程分析法更仔細探究這些面向。

Keywords:

• schema therapy
• psychotherapy research
• integrative psychotherapy
• change processes
• change mechanisms

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the health professionals of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at the University of Tübingen. We would like to thank Malwina Schatschneider, Sabrina Schenk, and Christine Bitsch for their intensive support in realizing the study. We state that no conflict of interest was present concerning this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the “Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German National Academic Foundation)” and by the “Köhler-Stiftung (Köhler Foundation),” project number S112/10145/10.