Flexibility between immersion and distancing: A dynamic pattern with effect on depressive symptoms

Abstract

Objective: Recent studies on immersion (first-person perspective) and distancing (third-person perspective) in psychotherapy have shown the potential of both perspectives in the treatment of depression. High levels of change were associated with transitions between immersion and distancing, suggesting that a dynamic pattern between them may result in a more adaptive view of reality. This study aimed to assess if higher flexibility between these perspectives, during clientś reflection on negative experiences in the intermediate phase, is associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms at the end of treatment. Method: We analyzed the flexibility through frequency and magnitude of transitions between immersion and distancing, in representative sessions of the intermediate phase of therapy in 17 cases with depression. Results: The results showed that the higher frequency and lower magnitude in the intermediate phase predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms at the end of treatment. Conclusion: Immersion and distancing seem to work as dynamic processes, and greater flexibility between them in intermediate phase of therapy, characterized by frequent and fast transitions between the two perspectives, may be an adaptive pattern due to its effect on post treatment depressive symptoms.

Keywords:

• immersion
• distancing
• dynamic systems theory
• depressive symptoms

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), by the PhD [grant number SFRH/BD/77183/2011], by the [grant number PTDC/PSI-PCL/103432/2008], and by the [grant numbers PTDC/MHC-PCL/1991/2014, CPUP UID/PSI/00050/2013, FEDER/COMPETE 2020, and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007294].