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Published on: January 5, 2018
Changes in conflict, symptoms, and well-being during psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral alcohol inpatient
J Hoyer1, J Fecht, W Lauterbach
1Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany. hoyer@psy1.psych-tu-dresden.de
Background:
According to Grawe's psychological therapy approach, conflict reduction can be expected not only in psychodynamic, but also in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This was tested in an effectiveness study. Changes in cognitive conflicts, along with those of symptom severity and well-being were analyzed during alcohol inpatient treatment.
Methods:
Four times during treatment, groups of patients receiving psychodynamic therapy (n = 45 patients) or CBT (n = 49 patients) were measured and compared. Lauterbach's Online Conflict Test was used to measure conflict. Symptom severity and well-being were measured using questionnaires.
Results:
Results showed significant conflict decrease in both groups with a tendency towards faster reduction under CBT. There was also significant change in symptom severity and well-being in both groups with no difference regarding reduction gradient. Moreover, patients in the psychodynamic treatment group exhibited lower symptom scores at treatment begin which may be a consequence of clinical group assignment.
Conclusions:
In general, the findings confirmed Grawe's theoretical assumptions. Generalizability to other diagnostic groups and other clinical settings remains to be tested.
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