Different patterns of change in narratives of men and women during analytical group psychotherapy

Narratives of men and women concerning their interactions with other people were evaluated before and during analytically oriented group psychotherapy using the Core-Conflictual-Relationship-Theme (CCRT) method (Luborsky & Crits-Cristoph, 1990). Relationship patterns of men and women developed differently during therapy. Some gender stereotypes persisted, others changed. During therapy the proportion of negative responses in the narratives increased in the men. Change in the narratives was not related to change in self-reported symptoms. For group treatments, the results suggest that the gender of the patients has to be taken into account. Knowledge of different developmental patterns for men and women in groups can be important in regard to the expectations of therapists and their countertransference.