Abstract

The assimilation model suggests that therapeutic change occurs through a gradual assimilation of problematic experiences. Previous case studies have suggested that both good- and poor-outcome cases exhibit a fluctuating pattern of assimilation progress, characterized by advances and setbacks. Our study examined more closely how this fluctuating pattern is related to symptom change across therapy. We analyzed the longitudinal relations among assimilation ratings, instability (fluctuation) in assimilation ratings, and clinical symptom intensity in two contrasting cases of emotion-focused therapy for depression, one good and one poor outcome. We used the assimilation of problematic experiences scales (APES) to measure assimilation and the outcome- questionnaire (OQ-10) to measure clinical symptom intensity. To assess assimilation instability, we used a fluctuation measure that calculated the amplitude and the frequency of changes in assimilation levels. The results showed that in the good-outcome case, assimilation levels and instability tended to increase and symptom intensity tended to decrease, particularly in the final phase of treatment. In the poor-outcome case, assimilation levels and instability did not change much across sessions.

摘要

同化模型表明，治疗变化是通过逐渐同化有问题的经历而发生的。以前的案例研究表明，结果好的和坏的案例都表现出同化进程的波动模式，其特点是进步和挫折。我们的研究更仔细地研究了这种波动模式如何与治疗期间的症状变化相关。我们分析了情绪聚焦治疗抑郁症的两个对比案例中同化评分、同化评分的不稳定性（波动）和临床症状强度之间的纵向关系，一个好的结果和一个差的结果。我们使用问题经验同化量表 (APES) 来衡量同化，并使用结果问卷 (OQ-10) 来衡量临床症状强度。为了评估同化不稳定性，我们使用了一种波动测量来计算同化水平变化的幅度和频率。结果表明，在结果良好的情况下，同化水平和不稳定性趋于增加，症状强度趋于降低，尤其是在治疗的最后阶段。在结果不佳的情况下，同化水平和不稳定性在整个会话中没有太大变化。