Does interpersonal dependency affect therapeutic outcome? A meta-analytic review.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychotherapy Research

Background:

• Interpersonal dependency is a personality trait that may influence treatment effectiveness.
• Understanding these influences is crucial for tailoring therapeutic approaches.
• Previous research has yielded mixed results on the impact of dependency in therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To meta-analytically examine the relationship between interpersonal dependency and therapeutic outcome.
• To identify specific therapeutic modalities and patient characteristics that moderate this relationship.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis synthesizing data from 31 studies with 3807 participants.
• Analysis of effect sizes to determine the overall association between dependency and outcome.
• Exploration of moderating factors including therapy type, diagnosis, and measurement tools.

Main Results:

• High interpersonal dependency correlated with positive outcomes in psychodynamic therapy (r = 0.11, p < 0.05).
• Dependency showed no significant association with cognitive-behavioural therapy outcomes (r = -0.05, ns).
• High dependency was linked to less positive outcomes in pharmacological treatment (r = -0.15, p < 0.001).
• Dependency's impact varied by patient diagnosis (positive for anxiety, not depression) and outcome measure (global functioning, not symptom reduction).

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal dependency is a significant factor influencing therapeutic outcomes, with effects contingent on the treatment modality.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering personality traits in treatment selection and outcome prediction.
• Future research should further explore the nuanced interactions between personality, therapy type, and treatment success.