Changes in interpersonal problems in the psychotherapeutic treatment of depression as measured by the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Despite being central to theories of depression, interpersonal problems are infrequently included in outcome studies. Brief psychotherapy was associated with moderate to large effect sizes in reduction in interpersonal problems. Of the dimensions underlying interpersonal behaviour, the dominance dimension may be more amenable to change than the affiliation dimension. Yet, high pre-treatment affiliation appeared to be associated with better outcomes than low affiliation, supporting the theory that more affiliative patients may develop a better therapeutic relationship with the therapist and consequently respond more positively than more hostile patients.

What interpersonal problems are related to different therapeutic techniques early in treatment?

“…Such problems, defined as dysfunctional patterns in a person's interpersonal interactions (Horowitz, 1996), have great clinical significance, as they are associated with significant distress, and they are highly comorbid with both Axis I and Axis II disorders (Dammann et al, 2016;Joyce, Ogrodniczuk, & Kealy, 2017 Luyten, & Fonagy, 2018;Penedo, Constantino, Coyne, Westra, & Antony, 2017;Ung et al, 2017). Such problems, defined as dysfunctional patterns in a person's interpersonal interactions (Horowitz, 1996), have great clinical significance, as they are associated with significant distress, and they are highly comorbid with both Axis I and Axis II disorders (Dammann et al, 2016;Joyce, Ogrodniczuk, & Kealy, 2017 Luyten, & Fonagy, 2018;Penedo, Constantino, Coyne, Westra, & Antony, 2017;Ung et al, 2017).…”

“…In terms of Axis I psychopathology, for example, both generalized anxiety and social phobia patients report difficulties related to interpersonal nonassertiveness (Kachin et al, 2001;Penedo et al, 2017). Interpersonal problems have also been found to be present in even mild cases of depression (McFarquhar et al, 2018) and have been cited as prognostic and maintenance factors for eating disorders. Interpersonal problems have also been found to be present in even mild cases of depression (McFarquhar et al, 2018) and have been cited as prognostic and maintenance factors for eating disorders.…”

“…In terms of Axis II psychopathology, interpersonal problems are common as well (Joyce et al, 2017). Although prior research suggests that interpersonal problems can generally be treated in psychotherapy (McFarquhar et al, 2018), more research is needed to understand what drives patient improvement in interpersonal areas. Although prior research suggests that interpersonal problems can generally be treated in psychotherapy (McFarquhar et al, 2018), more research is needed to understand what drives patient improvement in interpersonal areas.…”

“…avoidance (Kachin et al, 2001). Interpersonal problems have also been found to be present in even mild cases of depression (McFarquhar et al, 2018) and have been cited as prognostic and maintenance factors for eating disorders. Specifically, interpersonal submissiveness is associated with treatment adherence in binge eating disorder, whereas reductions in binge eating symptoms predict increases in interpersonal dominance (Luo et al, 2018).…”

“…Borderline personality disorder is one notable example, as interpersonal problems are considered to be one of the core features of the disorder (Dammann et al, 2016). Although prior research suggests that interpersonal problems can generally be treated in psychotherapy (McFarquhar et al, 2018), more research is needed to understand what drives patient improvement in interpersonal areas.…”