Patient predictors of process and outcome in short-term individual psychotherapy

Twenty-one psychiatric outpatients were treated with short-term, psychoanalytically oriented, individual psychotherapy. Outcome ratings were provided by the patient, the therapist, and an independent assessor. Process ratings were provided by the patient and the therapist at the end of therapy. From a series of multiple regression analyses two pretherapy predictor scores (defensive style of the patient, object choice of the patient) emerged as good predictors of several of the process and outcome ratings. The two predictor scores were statistically independent of one another and were not significantly related to initial severity of disturbance. Attention to these two concepts in future research and in clinical assessment of patients for short-term individual psychotherapy is recommended.