Symptom improvement and its temporal course in short-term dynamic psychotherapy. A growth curve analysis

Using hierarchical linear model procedures, growth curve analyses were performed to examine the course, rate, and correlates of symptom improvement during short-term anxiety-provoking psychotherapy (STAPP) and a 2-year posttermination period. The Symptom Check-list-90 was used to measure general symptomatology. The sample consisted of 15 patients who were found suitable for STAPP. Most had a diagnosis of anxiety. Therapists were in postgraduate manual-guided STAPP training. Results showed that three of four patients made a reliable and clinically significant symptom improvement over the course of treatment. Patients improved at a steady rate during treatment as well as after treatment. Average improvement was large and significant during treatment, while small and marginally significant after treatment. Improvement rates varied significantly over the course of treatment and were faster for patients less rigid in their personality functioning.