Transference patterns in the therapeutic relationship in supportive-expressive psychotherapy for depression

Abstract

The construct of transference has been central to theories of dynamic psychotherapy. This investigation evaluated the similarity between patients' interpersonal themes, derived from pretreatment interpersonal interviews, and the theme evident in psychotherapy narratives about the therapist for 18 patients treated in supportive-expressive psychotherapy for major depression. This investigation was designed to sort out the potential confound of the therapist's influence on the report of interpersonal themes and to explore how transference might vary over the course of therapy. The results indicated that 33% of patients demonstrated a significant relation between the most pervasive theme evident from the pretreatment narratives and the narratives about the therapist. These results remained consistent when early and late session therapist narratives were evaluated separately. Further, patients rated with higher quality of interpersonal relationships and lower symptoms prior to treatment demonstrated greater similarity between their pretreatment interpersonal themes and the theme described in the therapeutic relationship.