Process, life events, and symptomatic change in brief eclectic psychotherapy

Brief eclectic psychotherapy was intensively studied using a time series approach to interrelate intrasessional processes, life events, and intermediate outcomes. The alliance demonstrated large global effects on outcome whereas therapist-rated high quality sessions preceded decreases in intersessional symptom levels (intermediate outcomes). Negative life events and negative intrasessional emotional experiences (rejection and dysphoria) anteceded increases in intersessional symptoms. Changes in subjective life events were associated with preceding intrasessional processes. It appeared that process might partially exercise its outcome effects by influencing patients' experience of their daily lives, which in turn, influenced intersessional symptom levels. Insight apparently occurred at the culmination of a 3-step process that was not directly related to symptom reduction. It was speculated that insight may function to consolidate therapeutic change. Relationships among other process measures were also described.