An empirical study of countertransference reactions toward patients with personality disorders

Røssberg, Jan Ivar; Karterud, Sigmund; Pedersen, Geir; Friis, Svein

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.02.002

Cited by 88 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The inverse relationship between these two variables is consistent with studies that relate the care of patients with specific personality disorders to characteristic countertransference feelings. [8][9][10][11]33 There were no significant associations in the sample stratified of patients seen by male therapists, probably due to the small sample size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…8,9 Studies by Rossberg et al and Betan et al depict recent research addressing the relationship between countertransference patterns and personality disorders. 10,11 The first study 10 has shown that there are differences in therapists' countertransference reactions towards patients with different personality disorders, as well as the relationship between countertransference feelings and the direction of treatments. The study by Betan et al showed significant correlation between specific countertransference patterns and personality disorders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Countertransference in the initial visit of women victims of sexual violence

Eizirik

Schestatsky

Kruel

et al. 2010

Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr.

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Objective: To identify demographic and clinical correlates associated with therapists' countertransference feelings on the first visit of women victims of sexual violence. Method: Forty patients were seen by 26 therapists, during 2 consecutive years, at the Center for the Study and Treatment of Psychological Trauma, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. After the first visit with the patient, the therapist completed the Assessment of Countertransference Scale and the patient was evaluated with the Davidson Trauma Scale, the Standardized Assessment of Personality -Abbreviated Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Defense Style Questionnaire. Results: The therapists showed a predominance of feelings of closeness (Mean = 5.42, SD = 1.25) in relation to the feelings of indifference (Mean = 1.82, SD = 1.22) and distance (Mean = 1.57, SD = 1.08) [p < 0.001]. Multivariate analyses did not present significant associations between countertransference feelings and clinical characteristics of patients. The gender of the therapists did not influence the pattern of countertransference feelings. In the subgroup of female therapists, we detected an inverse correlation between a higher probability of patients' personality disorders and feelings of closeness in the therapists. Conclusion: We did not detect a differential pattern of countertransference feelings associated with specific clinical characteristics. Therapists of both genders presented a similar pattern of feelings of empathy towards women victims of sexual violence, although the gender of the therapist may moderate the feelings evoked by patients with increased likelihood of personality disorders. Descriptors

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Countertransference in the initial visit of women victims of sexual violence

Eizirik

Schestatsky

Kruel

et al. 2010

Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…28 In general, the tools used to evaluate CT were very similar, as they were essentially lists of feelings and scales that rated CT from absent to very intense. The most frequent tool was the FWC-58, 22,[37][38][39]41 an option for future studies. Although there were some differences in study design, the way CT was evaluated was similar in most studies: feelings elicited in the therapist were scored after the end of the session.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They found that patients with clusters A and B personality disorders elicited more negative and less positive CT than those with cluster C. Moreover, in the beginning of the treatment, there was a negative correlation of feeling rejection and on guard with some patient characteristics, such as social avoidance and intrusiveness. 37 In the end of the treatment, a strong negative correlation was found between vindictive and cold patient behaviors and positive CT.…”

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confidence: 99%

Systematic review of studies about countertransference in adult psychotherapy

Machado

Coelho

Giacomelli³

et al. 2014

Trends Psychiatry Psychother.

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Introduction: Countertransference, the emotional reaction of a psychotherapist toward a patient, is an important technical element of psychotherapy. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and describe the main findings of studies that evaluated countertransference in adult psychotherapy. Methods: A search was conducted of the databases Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Knowledge to retrieve data published in any language at any time. Results: Of the 1,081 studies found in the databases, 25 were selected. Most were about psychodynamic psychotherapy, and results indicated that positive countertransference, that is, feelings of closeness to the patient, are associated with positive outcomes, such as symptom improvement and good therapeutic alliance. Conclusions: Although few studies were found in the literature, countertransference seems to be an important source of knowledge about several aspects, such as treatment outcomes, attachment style, therapeutic alliance, patient symptoms and diagnoses.

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“…The personality disorders cluster, for example, comprised two cases, one a case of borderline personality disorder and the other a case of obsessive-compulsive personality, which, according to at least one study, provoke different CTs. 43 Another fact that weakens these findings is that the manner in which the diagnosis was arrived at negates a significant part of their validity. However, using diagnostic instruments, view of the absence of analyses of the specific subtypes of CT that comprise the three major domains, such as rage or curiosity, and their associations with the other variables.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Countertransference and therapeutic alliance in the early stage of adult psychodynamic psychotherapy

Machado

Teche

Lapolli

et al. 2015

Trends Psychiatry Psychother.

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Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between countertransference (CT) and therapeutic alliance (TA) during the early stages of psychodynamic psychotherapy. A secondary objective is to assess associations between CT and variables related to therapist and patient and between CT and other patient variables investigated, which were defense mechanisms, symptomology and functionality. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 30 patients treated by 17 different therapists at the psychotherapy clinics of two psychiatry centers. Assessments of each patient-therapist pair were conducted between their fourth and 10th sessions. Results: The CT distance domain exhibited a moderate negative correlation with TA, particularly its sub-dimension representing the patient's capacity for work in therapy. Moderate positive correlations were observed between CT distance and the splitting defense mechanism and between CT closeness and suppression defenses, in addition to moderate negative correlation between CT indifference and the fantasy defense mechanism. Another finding was higher scores for CT indifference in association with socioeconomic classes D and E. Conclusions: The quality of CT may provide a source of information about TA. A high degree of CT distance represents a low level of TA, particularly with relation to the patient's working capacity, although presence of the splitting defense mechanism can affect CT, to the extent that it constitutes a confounding variable. The concept of CT is useful to psychotherapists, providing a source of information about the patient's internal world and about certain elements of therapy, such as the quality of TA, which is important for good treatment results. Keywords:Psychotherapy, psychoanalytic therapy, psychoanalysis, countertransference, therapeutic alliance. ResumoObjetivos: O objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi avaliar a relação entre a contratransferência (CT) e a aliança terapêutica (AT) no início da psicoterapia psicodinâmica. O objetivo secundário é avaliar a associação da CT com as variáveis da dupla e da CT com as demais variáveis do paciente avaliadas, que foram os mecanismos de defesa, sintomatologia e funcionalidade. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 30 pacientes do ambulatório de psicoterapia de dois serviços de psiquiatria, atendidos por 17 terapeutas. As avaliações ocorreram entre quarto e décimo encontros da dupla. Resultados: A dimensão da CT distância apresentou correlação negativa moderada com a AT, especialmente sua dimensão que representa a capacidade de trabalho em terapia do paciente. Foram verificadas correlações moderadas positivas entre CT distância e cisão e entre CT proximidade e supressão, além da correlação moderada negativa da CT indiferença com fantasia. Outro dado encontrado foi a presença de maiores níveis da CT indiferença diante de pacientes da classe socioeconômica D e E. Conclusões: A qualidade da CT pode servir de fonte de informações sobre a AT. A presença de ...

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An empirical study of countertransference reactions toward patients with personality disorders

Cited by 88 publications

References 20 publications

Countertransference in the initial visit of women victims of sexual violence

Countertransference in the initial visit of women victims of sexual violence

Systematic review of studies about countertransference in adult psychotherapy

Countertransference and therapeutic alliance in the early stage of adult psychodynamic psychotherapy

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