Do therapists' subjective variables impact on psychodynamic psychotherapy outcomes? A systematic literature review

Abstract

The present review clarifies how a deep examination of the contribution of therapists' subjective characteristics can help elucidate the complex association between relational and technical factors related to the outcome of psychodynamic treatments.

Process expectations: Differences between therapists, patients, and lay individuals in their views of what works in psychotherapy

“…Previous studies have indicated that pretreatment perceptions regarding psychotherapy influence help‐seeking behaviors (Vogel, Wester, Wei, & Boysen, ), as well as the ability to actively engage in and benefit from the therapeutic process (Vittengl, Clark, Thase, & Jarrett, ). Therapist attitudes and value systems have also been previously associated with therapeutic outcomes (Berghout, & Zevalkink, ; Lingiardi, Muzi, Tanzilli, & Carone, ). Interventional studies further demonstrate that therapeutic actions aimed at bridging gaps in expectations between therapists and clients are beneficial to the therapeutic process (Guajardo & Anderson, ).…”

“…Previous studies have indicated that pretreatment perceptions regarding psychotherapy influence help-seeking behaviors (Vogel, Wester, Wei, & Boysen, 2005), as well as the ability to actively engage in and benefit from the therapeutic process (Vittengl, Clark, Thase, & Jarrett, 2019). Therapist attitudes and value systems have also been previously associated with therapeutic outcomes (Berghout, & Zevalkink, 2011;Lingiardi, Muzi, Tanzilli, & Carone, 2018).…”

Significant Differences in Personality Styles of Securely and Insecurely Attached Psychotherapists: Data, Reflections and Implications

“…Therapists' personality traits in particular have scarcely been researched so far (Lingiardi et al, 2017) but are also likely to be of influence in building a good working alliance (Chapman et al, 2009;Taber et al, 2011) as well as other therapeutic skills. Although there is a substantial amount of literature on which qualities and skills therapists should present (Keenan and Rubin, 2016), there is surprisingly little research on what therapists are actually like.…”

“…However, it is not quite clear how therapists actually foster a good working alliance. A systematic review of therapists' influence on treatment outcome in psychodynamic therapies found that therapists' interpersonal functioning showed the strongest evidence for directly affecting outcome (Lingiardi et al, 2017). Likewise, Heinonen and Nissen-Lie (2019) concluded in their most recent review that more effective psychotherapists seem to be characterized by interpersonal capacities which are rooted in their personal lives and attachment history.…”

Suppressor effects in associations between patient attachment to therapist and psychotherapy outcome

“…Petrowski, Nowacki, Pokorny, and Buchheim () found interaction effects between patient and therapist attachment styles with regard to the alliance. A recent review reported preliminary evidence that therapists' attachment styles (as well as other therapist variables such as interpersonal history with caregivers or self‐concept) influence the outcome through interactions with patient variables and the therapeutic alliance (Lingiardi, Muzi, Tanzilli, & Carone, ). As most of the past studies on the therapeutic alliance focused on the degree of agreement between patient and therapist, further research could examine how the patient attachment to therapist dimensions are related to negotiations of disagreements (Doran, Safran, & Muran, ) or to alliance ruptures (e.g., Miller‐Bottome, Talia, Safran, & Muran, ).…”