Relation of transference interpretations to outcome in the early sessions of brief supportive-expressive psychotherapy

Transference interpretations have been considered an important technique in models of short-term dynamic psychotherapy. The purpose of the current inv estigation was to explore the role of transference interpretations in the e arly sessions of 29 patients treated with Supportive-Expressive (SE) psycho therapy for depression. Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to eval uate the relationship between proportion of transference interpretations an d treatment outcome measured across levels of quality of interpersonal rela tionships. High levels of transference interpretations were significantly a ssociated with poor treatment outcome for patients with poor interpersonal functioning. The results suggest that transference interpretations should b e used sparingly in the early sessions of SE psychotherapy with patients wh o demonstrate a poor quality of interpersonal relationships prior to treatm ent.