Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
How personality functioning shapes symptom development during and after treatment: A random intercept cross lagged
Jürgen Fuchshuber1, Henrik Kessler2, Aram Kehyayan3
1Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Objectives:
This study investigates the long-term influence of fluctuations around the individual's means of personality functioning (PF) on mental and physical symptoms in a large sample of patients receiving psychotherapy.
Methods:
We reanalyzed observational data of 2094 participants (68% female; age M = 39.89 years; SD = 14.20 years) which took part in the Multicenter Effectiveness Study of Inpatient Psychosomatic Psychotherapeutic Treatment (short: MEPP) at three time points. A Random Intercept-Cross Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) was used to examine within-person longitudinal effects between PF (OPD-SQS) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and somatic symptom load (PHQ-15). The model was controlled for age, sex, treatment condition and treatment length.
Results:
Strong between-person intercorrelations were observed between all investigated constructs. At the longitudinal within-person level PF at hospital discharge predicted somatic symptom load (p < .01), depressive symptoms, anxiety and itself (all p < .05) at follow up, however, PF showed no effect during treatment (p > .05). Furthermore, depressive symptoms at baseline influenced general symptom burden and PF development during treatment (all p < .05) and showed strong effects on anxiety and somatic symptoms at follow up (p < .001).
Conclusions:
The results suggest a sustained influence of intraindividual PF deviations on general symptom development after psychotherapy, but also emphasize the effect of depressive symptoms in psychotherapy outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...
Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
Introduction to Personality Psychology
Early Theories of Personality
The study of personality dates...
Borderline Personality Disorder
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
