The reliability and validity of a measure of self-understanding of interpersonal patterns

Change in self-understanding of maladaptive interpersonal patterns has been an important mechanism of symptom change in theories of dynamic psychother apy and has been specified as an important treatment outcome by psychothera py clients. The current investigation evaluated the reliability and validit y of a new self-report measure of Self-Understanding of Interpersonal patte rns (SUIP). The measure was administered to 3 clinical samples and a studen t sample. The measure demonstrated good internal consistency, test-retest r eliability, and discriminant validity. The SUIP further demonstrated conver gent validity with measures of analytical and self-improving personality tr aits in a clinical sample. Finally there was significantly greater change i n self-understanding in a dynamic psychotherapy as compared with a medicati on treatment condition, despite comparable symptom change across both treat ment conditions.