Dynamic change in psychotherapy: mastery of interpersonal conflicts

This study investigated the relationship between the mastery of maladaptive interpersonal patterns (assessed from narratives told during psychotherapy) and outcome of psychotherapy. Transcripts from the psychodynamic psychotherapy of 41 patients were scored using a content analysis mastery scale. Changes in mastery level over the course of therapy were significantly related to changes in observer and therapist ratings. In addition, the patients' own judgments of changes in their symptoms and main problems paralleled changes in the mastery of interpersonal conflicts found in their narratives. These results are consistent with the proposition that symptoms abate with the mastery of core interpersonal conflicts.