An interpersonal model of psychotherapy: Linking patient and therapist developmental history, therapeutic process, and types of outcome

This study empirically evaluated a 3-stage causal model based on interperso nal theory that relates patient and therapist early parental relations, the therapeutic alliance, and outcome. Data were from the Vanderbilt II databa se and encompassed 64 psychodynamic psychotherapies. Interpersonal variable s were assessed using the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior. Initial s upport for the model was found, suggesting a direct effect of patient early parental relations on process and outcome, a direct effect of therapist ea rly parental relations on process, and a direct effect of process on outcom e-and thus indirect effects of both patient and therapist early parental re lations on outcome mediated by the process. The psychotherapy process was a ssessed from 3 perspectives: patient and therapist self-report and reports by independent observers. Little convergence was found between the 3 perspe ctives.