Self‐concept of relational skills in psychotherapy trainees: A pilot study

Background: Personal characteristics and relational skills represent central aspects of the psychotherapist's work, and yet, little is still known about them in the context of psychotherapy training. Objective: This paper presents a preliminary exploration of the self-concepts of relational skills in psychotherapy trainees. Changes in the self-concept in N = 131 psychotherapy trainees were explored through analysis of self-image ideal-self and self/ ideal-self discrepancy in two stages (beginning vs. advanced). Method: Data were collected with a modified version of the self-rated instruments Trainee Background Information Form and Trainee Current Practice Report (Orlinsky et al., 2015), and…

S.CA.T. ANALYSIS CODE OF STYLE IN THERAPEUTIC FIELDS: THE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDITY OF AN INSTRUMENT FOR THE ANALYSIS IN THE FIELD OF THE GROUP THERAPY

Online Supportive Group as social intervention to face COVID lockdown. A qualitative study on psychotherapists, psychology trainees and students, and community people.

Several psychological interventions have been activated to help people during the Coronavirus pandemic, and research highlights the crucial role of group interventions as a space for sharing and processing the psychological experiences linked to this emergency and the consequent changes in people’s lifestyles. In this context, psychologists are mostly providers of this kind of service more than users. This study aimed at investigating and comparing post-hoc the subjective experience of psychotherapists, psychology trainees & students, and individuals of the general population who participated in a psychodynamically-oriented supportive group intervention. Fifty-two subjects were enrolled…

P–231 Transnational oocyte donation program between Italy and Spain based on transport of vitrified oocytes: a five-years experience

Abstract Study question What is the clinical efficacy of an oocyte donation program based on the transportation of vitrified oocytes between two countries? Summary answer The transnational oocyte donation program is efficient, safe and comparable to other strategies (transport of frozen sperm and embryos). What is known already Egg donation represents a valid treatment strategy for women who have exhausted their ovarian function and it has considerably increased in the last years. In Italy, egg donation is allowed after the judgment of the Constitutional Court n. 162 in 2014 but no reimbursement for the donors is provided. For this reason, the number of voluntary donors is irrelevant. There…

Infertility-related stress, anxiety and ovarian stimulation: can couples be reassured about the effects of psychological factors on biological responses to assisted reproductive technology?

Abstract The aim of this prospective, longitudinal study was to examine the association between couples' pre-treatment psychological characteristics (state anxiety and infertility-related stress levels of both partners) and ovarian response during assisted reproductive technology treatment in a well-controlled sample. A total of 217 heterosexual couples (434 patients), suffering from primary infertility and undergoing their first assisted reproductive technology treatment at the Reproductive Medicine Unit of ANDROS Day Surgery Clinic in Palermo (Italy), were recruited. Psychological variables were assessed using the State Scale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) and the Fertility Pro…

Le funzioni metacognitive nei pazienti con disturbi del comportamento alimentare. Uno studio sul trattamento psicodinamico di gruppo

L’Outcome-Questionnaire 45.2. Adattamento italiano di uno strumento per la valutazione dei trattamenti psicologici.The Outcome Questionnaire 45.2. Italian validation of an instrument for the assessment of psychological treatments.

Scopo – L’Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2; Lambert et al., 2004) è uno strumento che misura importanti aree di funzionamento psicologico (sintomatologia, problemi interpersonali, funzionamento nel ruolo sociale) di interesse centrale per la valutazione degli esiti psicoterapeutici. In questo studio è stata esaminata la validità cross-culturale dell’OQ-45.2 nella popolazione italiana, confrontando le proprietà psicometriche, l’equivalenza della struttura fattoriale ed i punteggi normativi della versione italiana con quella originale degli USA. Metodo – I dati sono stati raccolti a Bologna e Palermo presso l’Università (N=461), tre strutture pubbliche di salute mentale (N=301) ed un’organizzaz…

The Italian version of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire: psychometric properties and validation in students, community, and clinical groups

The current study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Italian validation of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ), conceived as a measure of self-criticism and dependency, i.e. two personality factors acting, according to Blatt (2004), as risk factors for depression in particular and psychopathology in general. A series of standardized measures [Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), DEQ, Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, 3rd edition (MCMI-III)] was administered to three samples (i.e., students, community and clinical). Factorial validity was evaluated along with convergent and predictive validity. In order to evaluate the reliability…

Alleanza terapeutica, meccanismi di difesa ed esito nel trattamento dei disturbi di personalità: un single case

Funzioni metacognitive in una terapia di gruppo ad orientamento psicodinamico

I gruppi di elaborazione sull'identità professionale: quali cambiamenti e quale processo?

Il contributo espone i dati preliminari di una ricerca che riguarda la valutazione di esito e di processo di cinque gruppi a conduzione psicodinamica svolti in ambito universitario. L'obiettivo di tali gruppi, che hanno coinvolto 110 studenti (I anno LM in Psicologia Clinica), è sviluppare le capacità di riflessione sull'identità professionale, la capacità di analizzare i propri vissuti e la propria capacità di relazionarsi con gli altri nella dinamica gruppale. Ogni gruppo ha previsto 8 incontri settimanali della durata di tre ore ciascuno, più un incontro conclusivo a distanza di due settimane dedicato ad una valutazione condivisa dell'esperienza. Sono stati somministrati gli strumenti di…

Could infertility-related stress and anxiety of both partners influence the success of infertility treatment?.

The impact of the patient's Adjustment to breast cancer of the burden and distress of the caregiver.

The fertility problem inventory (FPI): a validation study of the Italian version

#How Can We Help You?: An Instagram-Based Online Self-Help for Eating Disorders

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in online self-help treatments and peer-support programs for eating disorders. The possibility of easily accessing them anytime makes these programs an important support tool and an influencing source for increasing motivation to change. The aim of this work is to describe the #How can we help you? project, its initial feedback received from users, and its future directions. Researchers and clinicians developed an Instagram profile (Dicci Come Aiutarti) based on psychoeducation, aimed at orienting those suffering from a self-reported eating disorder towards clinical care, providing information about eating concerns and related constructs…

Cross-Country Measurement Invariance and Effects of Sociodemographic Factors on Body Weight and Shape Concern-Related Constructs in Eight Countries.

The aim of this study was to examine the cross-country invariance of five well-established measures of body weight and shape concern-related attitudes and behaviors (i.e., drive for leanness, drive for muscularity, strategies to increase muscle, strategies to lose weight, and weight and shape concerns). A secondary objective was to examine the effects of several sociodemographic factors (age, BMI, socioeconomic status, and gender) on item and latent factor scores of these constructs. A total of 6272 emerging adults (4218 women; Mage = 21.46, SD = 3.11) from Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the U.S. completed a self-report online survey as part of a larger study. O…

The carriers of the A/G-G/G allelic combination of the c.2039 A>G and c.-29 G>A FSH receptor polymorphisms retrieve the highest number of oocytes in IVF/ICSI cycles

The objective of this study was the elucidation of the possible role of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at position -29 and 2039 of the FSH receptor gene (FSHR) as independent predictive markers of ovarian response. Indeed, the tailoring of reproductive treatments is crucial for both maximizing the success of IVF patients and obtaining a reduction in hypo- or hyper-response rates. This prospective, observational study analyzed the association of -29 and 2039 FSHR polymorphisms with the number of retrieved oocytes in 140 patients attending an IVF/ICSI cycle for severe male factors (≤5,000,000 spermatozoa/mL) or tubal factors at the ANDROS Day Surgery Clinic, Palermo, Italy. The res…

Effectiveness and therapeutic alliance in group-analytic treatment with eating disorder.

The alliance-outcome association in group interventions: A multilevel meta-analysis.

Objective: The therapeutic alliance has been studied in group interventions, but its relationship to patient outcome is still controversial. This study systematically reviewed the association of both the member-leader and member-group alliance with patient outcomes, and assessed the effects of several theoretically informed moderators. Method: A three-level meta-analysis was conducted on 57 studies to disentangle within- and between-study variability in the alliance-outcome association. Results: The overall effect size of the unconditional model was r = -.259 (95% CI: -.302, -.214; p < .001), whereas the correlation between alliance and outcome based on the three-level meta-analytic mode…

Lo stato dell'arte sulla ricerca empirica relativa ai gruppi omogenei

Ricerca e clinica. Questioni epistemologiche e metodologiche.

Le funzioni metacognitive nei pazienti con disturbi del comportamento alimentare. Uno studio sul trattamento di gruppo psicodinamico

There is an emerging empirical evidence that patients with eating disorders have severe metacognitive concerns, i.e. ability to reflect on mental states. This single-case study aims to explore the relationship between limited metacognition and eating symptoms in six patients who attended a long-term group treatment. This study also aims at analysing the change of patients metacognition over the course of treatment. All the patients were female, with a mean age of 17 years. Three patients have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, and three have a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. The group treatment was delivered in a outpatient clinic of the hospital of Acireale (CT). The SVaM (Carcione et al., 199…

Influenze tra processo ed esiti: alleanza, coesione e cambiamento in un gruppo terapeutico a lungo termine

Questo lavoro esplora, in un gruppo terapeutico con pazienti gravi, due tra le variabili di processo più indagate nelle terapie di gruppo, l’alleanza terapeutica e la coesione, analizzandone le associazioni con gli esiti del trattamento in termini di sintomi e difese. E’ stato esaminato un gruppo a lungo termine, semi-aperto, a cadenza settimanale. L’osservazione si è svolta per un periodo di 18 mesi, per un totale di 50 sedute. Sono stati monitorati 11 soggetti che riportavano diverse diagnosi nell’Asse I e II del DSM IV. TR Gli strumenti di esito usati sono stati l’SCL-90: Symptom Check List; l’ OQ-45: Outcome Question-naire 45.2; e il DSQ: Defense Style Questionnaire. Mentre per rilevare…

Early and Later Predictors of Outcome in Brief Therapy: The Role of Real Relationship

Objectives The study examined whether clients who continued longer in brief therapy reported stronger associations of real relationship and working alliance with therapy outcome than clients who received very brief treatment. It also examined whether real relationship and working alliance assessed early in treatment predicted outcome differently from that assessed later in therapy. Method Fifty clients (32 women; Mage = 22.3 years) were recruited from a university counseling center. Thirty-two clients (very brief therapy) completed the post-third session assessment of real relationship and working alliance, and 18 (brief therapy) had both the third and eighth assessment. Results The real re…

Assessing mentalization in psychotherapy: first validation of the Mentalization Imbalances Scale

The aim of this study was to provide data on the preliminary validation of a clinician-report multidimensional assessment measure of mentalization (Mentalization Imbalances Scale, MIS). A random national sample of psychotherapists (N=190) completed the MIS to identify mentalization imbalances, and the Personality Disorder Checklist to assess the personality disorders (PDs) of randomly selected patients currently in their care. Factor analysis confirmed the presence of six factors that represented different imbalances of mentalization: cognitive, affective, automatic, external, imbalance toward others, and imbalance toward self. We found several significant relationships between patients’ me…

FUNZIONI METACOGNITIVE ED ESITO IN UNA TERAPIA DI GRUPPO PER PAZIENTI CON DISTURBI DEL COMPORTAMENTO ALIMENTARE

P–409 Comparison of the incidence of ectopic pregnancies in fresh versus frozen embryo transfers in IVF/ICSI cycles: a meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT)

Abstract Study question Is the incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) increased in fresh compared with frozen embryo transfer (ET)? Summary answer The fresh ET is not associated with an increase of the incidence of EP in comparison with frozen ET. What is known already EP represents the first cause of mortality in the first trimester of pregnancy. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are associated with an increased EP risk. The reasons of this effect are inadequately explained and may be associated with variables patients-related as tubal diseases and ART-related as the number of embryos transferred, the depth of insertion of the catheter tip during ET and the supraphysiological estradiol…

Therapists' Perceptions of Online Group Therapeutic Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey-Based Study

Background: In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most group therapists moved their practice to online platforms. Surveys of psychotherapists indicate that many intend to maintain at least part of their practices online after the pandemic. This survey-based study is an attempt to identify therapist experiences with doing group therapy online, and to examine factors that are associated with therapist-rated outcomes. Method: We surveyed 307 group therapists about their ratings of the ease or difficulty in conducting group therapy online versus in-person, and indicators of patient outcomes in online groups. A confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a good fitting three latent factor solution…

Are attachment dimensions associated with infertility-related stress in couples undergoing their first IVF treatment? A study on the individual and cross-partner effect

study question: Are attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions in female and male partners in couples seeking infertility treat- ment associated with her and his infertility-related stress? summary answer: Attachment dimensions are significantly associated with several aspects of infertility stress in couples undergoing IVF treatment. what is known and what this paper adds: Attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance (where highly anxious individuals fear rejection and are preoccupied with maintaining proximity to their partner and highly avoidant individuals are uncomfortable with intimacy and prefer to maintain distance from their partner) may influence the well being of individuals u…

Mafia e psicoterapia: ricerca clinica ed empirica

La ricerca ha l’obiettivo di esplorare le dimensioni fondamentaliste e psicopatologiche nel mondo mafioso in relazione a come esse si presentano nel set(ting) psicoterapeutico e i vissuti controtransferali degli psicoterapeuti che hanno in cura pazienti provenienti da famiglie mafiose. Saranno riportate le osservazioni cliniche su casi appartenenti al mondo mafioso sia nel pubblico che nel privato e i dati relativi ad una ricerca realizzata sugli psicoterapeuti delle regioni meridionali. La ricerca ha previsto la somministrazione di un questionario costruito ad hoc e degli strumenti Psychotherapy Relationship Questionnaire (PRQ; Bradley, Heim, & Westen, 2005; Tanzilli, Colli, De Bei, & Ling…

Analysis of attachment and anxiety in couples experiencing infertility using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM).

The association among interpersonal problems, binge behaviors, and self-esteem, in the assessment of obese individuals

Abstract Objectives Although disordered eating has been assumed to be associated with interpersonal problems, there is a lack of research regarding the relationship between interpersonal problems and obesity. This study explored associations among self-esteem, binge behaviors, and interpersonal problems in obese individuals, by contrasting obese persons with overweight persons, and to investigate whether body mass index (BMI), binge behaviors, and self-esteem predict interpersonal problems in obese individuals. Methods A group of nonobese overweight people (n = 65; BMI range, 25-29.9 kg/m 2 ) and a group of obese people (n = 78; BMI >35 kg/m 2 ) were selected from 224 people attending a men…

Sviluppi e validazione di uno strumento per l’analisi del campo terapeutico di gruppo

A survey of eating styles in eight countries: Examining restrained, emotional, intuitive eating and their correlates

INTRODUCTION: Restrained, emotional and intuitive eating were examined in relation to each other and as correlates of participants' weight status, body image and self-esteem. In some past research, restrained and emotional eating have been associated with higher weight status and poorer mental health, while intuitive eating is more frequently linked to lower weight status and more positive well-being. However, these eating styles have rarely been examined together and never in a large cross-country sample. METHOD: Six-thousand two-hundred and seventy-two (6272) emerging adults (M age = 21.54 years, SD = 3.13) completed scales from the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, the Eating Disorders …

Mentalizing Subtypes in Eating Disorders: A Latent Profile Analysis

Background: Mentalizing, the mental capacity to understand oneself and others in terms of mental states, has been found to be reduced in several mental disorders. Some studies have suggested that eating disorders (EDs) may also be associated with impairments in mentalizing. The aim of this work is to investigate the possible presence of mentalizing subtypes in a sample of patients with EDs.Method: A sample of patients with eating disorders (N = 157) completed a battery of measures assessing mentalization and related variables, including the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Strategies (DERS), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Clinicia…

Ipovisione e qualità della vita: un contributo di ricerca su pazienti e caregiver.

STILI DI PERSONALITA’ ED ESITO TERAPEUTICO DI PAZIENTI CON DISTURBI DEL COMPORTAMENTO ALIMENTARE

Adolescenti affetti da insufficienza renale cronica: impatto dei fattori psicologici e relazionali intervenienti sulla gestione delle cure e sulla qaulità di vita

L'insufficienza renale (I.R.C.) è la perdita permanente della funzione renale, causata dalla progressione di una nefropatia ad andamento cronico, o da un danno irreversibile. Questa ricerca intende valutare il ruolo di alcuni elementi centrali nella gestione della patologia, quali: precezione del supporto socio-familiare, locus of control interno/esterno, compliance. metodologia edi ricerca di tipo cross-sectional correlazionale. I risultati evidenziano (tramite R di Pearson) correlazione positiva tra la scala "medici£ del test sul locus of control e la compliance al trattamento. Dallo studio emerge il forte valore dato dai soggetti alle indicazioni dei medici, al supporto dei familiari,ris…

Temi di gruppo e lavoro di cura in una comunità terapeutica per pazienti gravi

All bonds are not the same: A response surface analysis of the perceptions of positive bonding relationships in therapy groups

Intrapersonal split alliances were defined as discrepancies in how group members perceived their positive bonding relationships with the group leader, the other group members, and the group-as-a-whole, and were related to group members' outcome. Participants were 168 patients (116 women and 52 men) diagnosed as overweight or obese who participated in 1 of 20, 12-session, therapy groups for weight management. Group members completed the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45, Lambert et al., 2004) pre- and posttreatment and the Group Questionnaire (GQ, Krogel et al., 2013) at early, middle and late group sessions. Early, middle, and late ratings were aggregated because bond scores were consistent a…

Obesity and Interpersonal Problems: An Analysis with the Interpersonal Circumplex

This study examines the interpersonal problems profiles of obese individuals by cluster analysing the interpersonal problems circumplex scores of participants. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems— Short Circumplex (IIP‐32) was completed by 368 treatment‐seeking obese individuals. These data were cluster analysed, and groups of obese subjects defined by varying interpersonal problems were compared with regard to psychological distress, self‐esteem, body dissatisfaction, quality of life and binge behaviours. Cluster analyses of the IIP‐32 resulted in four clusters, which occupied two quadrants of the interpersonal circumplex. Several differences in body mass index, psychological distress,…

Relazioni interpersonali, stati emotivi e autostima in soggetti obesi binge eaters

Esito e processo nelle psicoterapie di gruppo: uno studio sul ruolo dell’alleanza terapeutica nel trattamento di pazienti con disturbi alimentari

La valutazione dei drop-out terapeutici: verso un'integrazione dei dati quantitativi e qualitativi nell'analisi del cambiamento in psicoterapia

Il presente studio ha l'obiettivo di valutare se l'utilizzo di un paradigma mixed methods (Dattilio et al., 2010) possa favorire la comprensione degli aspetti che possono essere associati ad un esito positivo o negativo (drop-out) di un trattamento. Sono stati selezionati 4 casi di psicoterapia psicodinamica individuale da un database di ricerca relativo a pazienti seguiti presso un servizio pubblico specialistico per il trattamento dei disturbi alimentare (DCA). Due casi hanno interrotto il trattamento entro 6 mesi dall'inizio, mentre altri due continuano il percorso terapeutico. Ai pazienti sono stati somministrati i seguenti strumenti: una batteria testologica al baseline, finalizzata a …

The role of attachment dimensions and perceived social support in predicting adjustment to cancer.

Objective: Several studies carried out over the last years show that patients' adjustment is very important to the past experiences of people with cancer. In our study of 96 subjects with cancer, we examined whether patient's working model of attachment anxiety/avoidance and perceptions of social support predicts adjustment to cancer. Methods: All participants filled in a demographic questionnaire, the Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC). Results: Anxious attachment predicted psychological adjustment: patients with high levels of anxious attachment showed high levels of helplessness…

A study of personality subtypes in treatment seeking obese patients

Previous research has not been able to identify a distinct personality style that refers specifically to obese individuals. The purpose of this investigation was to explore whether different personality-based groups can be identified in obese individuals, as has been shown with eating disorder patients. Data were collected from 149 obese patients (BMI = 37.3, ± 6.4; 83% female) seeking dietary treatment and psychological support for their weight problems. Participants completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III; Millon, 1997) and a battery of eight measures assessing psychological distress, mood states, eating behaviors, obesity-related quality of life, and interperson…

La Supervisione di gruppo come strumento di lavoro nelle Comunità Terapeutiche. Un single case.

Introduzione La valutazione dello strumento della supervisione si inserisce nell’ambito del filone di ricerca sulla valutazione della psicoterapia e dei gruppi nei diversi contesti di cura. I recenti studi in tale ambito (Correale, 1993; Galli, 1994; Bolognini e Mantovani, 1999) hanno evidenziato l’utilità di approfondire gli aspetti legati all’efficacia della supervisione, nelle sue principali funzioni, attraverso la valutazione dei differenti metodi e delle diverse tecniche e modalità d’intervento. Il presente lavoro di ricerca si propone di valutare lo strumento della supervisione in un setting di lavoro gruppale, all’interno di una Comunità Terapeutica Assistita per pazienti psichiatric…

Assessing infertility-related stress: The factor structure of the Fertility Problem Inventory in Italian couples undergoing infertility treatment

The factor structure of the Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) and its invariance across gender were examined in Italian couples undergoing infertility treatment. About 1000 subjects (both partners of 500 couples) completed two questionnaires prior to commencing infertility treatment at a private Clinic in Palermo, Italy. Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated that the original factor structure of the FPI was partially confirmed. Two correlated factors (Infertility Life Domains and Importance of Parenthood) were obtained via a post hoc Exploratory Factor Analysis. Finally, the invariance of this factor structure across gender was confirmed. The study supported the relevance of two interre…

Is there a group effect? It depends on how you ask the question: Intraclass correlations for California Psychotherapy Alliance Scale–Group items.

California Psychotherapy Alliance Scale-Group (CALPAS-G) data were collected from 1,138 group sessions attended by 248 group members in 16 counseling groups. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to derive between-groups, between-member, and between-session variance components and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the 12 CALPAS-G items. Using Ledermann and Kenny's (2012) descriptions of variable types, we examined differences in between-groups variance for the 6 CALPAS-G items classified as "Individual" items and the 6 CALPAS-G items classified as "Group" items. A Related-Samples Wilcoxon's Signed Ranked Test showed that the ICCs for the Group items were significantly lar…

Italian adaptation of the Group Questionnaire: validity and factorial structure

The Group Questionnaire (GQ) is a measure recently developed by Krogel et al. (2013) for the evaluation of the therapeutic relationship in group. The GQ identifies a three-factor model of the relationship that allows to measure quality (Positive Bonding, Positive Working and Negative Relationship) and structure (member-member, member-leader and member-group), dimensions in group. This work shows the results of a first study on the Italian validation of the GQ. In this study the GQ was administered to 536 subjects from 32 non-clinical groups of undergraduate students. The cross-cultural validity of the GQ in the Italian population has been examined by comparing the psychometric properties an…

Outcome and process evaluation of supervision on a group of social workers in a Therapeutic Community for psychiatric patients

Self‐esteem mediates the associations among negative affect, body disturbances, and interpersonal problems in treatment‐seeking obese individuals

Background: This study investigated the relationship among negative affect, body image disturbances (BID), and interpersonal problems, and the mediat- ing effect of self-esteem in a group of treatment-seeking obese individuals. Methods: Four hundred twenty-two obese patients (85 males and 337 females) completed standardised measures that assessed negative affect, BID, self-esteem, and interpersonal problems. Results: Structural equation modelling showed that obese individuals with greater negative affect and BID reported higher interpersonal problems and that self-esteem mediated the relationships among negative affect, BID, and interpersonal problems. Conclusions: The mediating role of sel…

The Italian Version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32): Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure in Clinical and Non-clinical Groups

All versions of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) are broadly used to measure people's interpersonal functioning. The aims of the current study are: (a) to examine the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Italian version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-short version (IIP-32); and (b) to evaluate its associations with core symptoms of different eating disorders. One thousand two hundred and twenty three participants (n = 623 non-clinical and n = 600 clinical participants with eating disorders and obesity) filled out the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-short version (IIP-32) along with measures of self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, RSES), psych…

Current Issues on Group Psychotherapy Research: An Overview

Recent efforts to improve group psychotherapy have focused on codifying both evidence-based treatments and therapeutic relationships. This chapter reviews the numerous advances in empirical research on group psychotherapy and highlights therapeutic practices ensuing from the evidence. The authors synthesize some of the most crucial development in group psychotherapy research, such as the effectiveness of group treatments, the mechanisms of change of group therapies, the components of group relationship, and issues regarding methodological problems associated with the analysis of group data.

Testing of a model for risk factors for eating disorders and higher weight among emerging adults: Baseline evaluation

Although a range of risk factors have been identified for disordered eating and weight status, the breadth of risk factors have been rarely considered within a single, comprehensive model. The robustness of these findings across countries also remains an open question. The present study sampled 6272 participants aged 18-30 years from eight countries in an attempt to evaluate combined and unique predictors for these two conditions, and to explore possible cross-country differences in these models. Participants completed a range of demographic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and sociocultural measures to test a comprehensive model of the contributions of these predictors for disordere…

The impact of real relationship and working alliance on therapy outcome: a study with an Italian sample

According to Greenson (1965), Gelso & Hayes (1998) developed a tripartite model of the therapeutic relationship, including a working alliance (WA), a transference-countertransference configuration, and a real relationship (RR). Up to date, only two studies (conducted in the US) investigated the associations between the real relationship and the working alliance in psychotherapy. AIMS: This study aims to explore the association between the RR and the WA both at the beginning and late phases of therapy, and to investigate whether the real relationship predicted therapy outcome beyond the predictive power of working alliance. METHOD: Sixty-five consecutive clients at the University Counseling …

Gruppi per pazienti con disturbi in Asse I : specificità del trattamento in un gruppo monosintomatico con disturbi di panico

Group as a Social Microcosm: The Reciprocal Relationship Between Intersession Intimate Behaviors and In-Session Intimate Behaviors

The social microcosm is defined as group members replicating their everyday (intersession) interpersonal behaviors in group sessions and new behaviors, learned in the group (in-session), replicating in the members' everyday life. We examined intersession and in-session intimate behaviors, at the within-member (differences in intimate behaviors between weeks/sessions), between-member (average differences in intimate behaviors between group members) and between-groups (group-level differences in intimate behaviors). Participants were 178 graduate students (86% identifying as women and 14% as men) participating in 10 5-session growth groups led by experienced group therapists. Before group ses…

Going through the lockdown: a longitudinal study on the psychological consequences of the coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus 2019 pandemic lockdown in Italy lasted for 2 months, 1 week and 2 days. During this long period, one of the longest in Europe, the restrictions produced effects on people’s psychological well-being, with consequences that also continued after lockdown. The purpose of the study is to investigate these effects and how they changed in the general population over a period of time. We are also interested in exploring people’s post-lockdown anxiety and concerns. We conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques. The longitudinal study consisted of four administrations covering a period of 10 weeks between April (baseline) and June (last follow-up). Levels of anxiety and…

Analysis of a group-analytic therapy by Metacognition Assessment Scale and OQ-45.2

Group supervision: topics, process and outcome

Supervision has been defined as “a formal process of professional support and learning which enables individual practitioners to develop knowledge and competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance consumer protection and safety of care in complex clinical situations” ( Department of Health (DoH), 1993). The study analyzes topics, process and outcome of a Leader-Led Peer Group Supervision, inside a TC for psychiatric patients. The group was head by an expert group-analyst, whose role was not to solve the supervisee's clinical problems, but to work with supervisees to help them to develop and manage their practices (Mackereth, 1997). The research project aims to recogni…

Quale universo dietro le sbarre? Ricerca sulla realtà carceraria minorile attraverso la G.A.S.

The Outcome Questionnaire 45.2. Italian validation of an instrument for the assessment of phychological treatments

SummaryAims– The Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2; Lambertet al., 2004) was designed to measure important areas of functioning (symptoms, interpersonal problems and social role functioning) that are of central interest in mental health. The crosscultural validity of the OQ-45.2 in the Italian population has been examined by comparing the psychometric properties and equivalence in factor structure and normative scores of the Italian OQ with the original American version.Method– Data were collected at university (N=461), in community (N=61) and in three mental health care organisations (N=301).Results– Results showed that the psychometric properties of the Italian OQ were adequate and similar t…

Trend di sviluppo dell’alleanza di lavoro negli interventi di counselling. Uno studio su alleanza, fattori terapeutici ed interventi del conduttore.

Il processo terapeutico dei gruppi psicodinamici con pazienti con disturbo del comportamento alimentare. Uno studio su alleanza, fattori terapeutici ed interventi del conduttore.

Dimensioni di personalità in soggetti con disturbi del comportamento alimentare

P–410 Comparison of the incidence of miscarriage rates in frozen versus fresh embryo transfers in IVF/ICSI cycles: a meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT)

Abstract Study question Is the incidence of miscarriage rates increased in frozen embryo transfer (ET) compared with fresh ET? Summary answer The frozen ET is not associated with an increased risk of miscarriage in comparison with fresh ET. What is known already Nowadays, the freeze-all policy has gained great popularity because it minimizes OHSS and it seems to improve the reproductive outcomes. This increase was possible thanks to progress in vitrification procedures. Nevertheless, some recent evidence suggests more caution on the wide use of elective frozen ET in a general IVF population for its possible effect on some pregnancy-related complications. Endometrial preparation schemes for …

La relazione clinica mediata dallo schermo nella psicoterapia di gruppo online

La psicoterapia di gruppo online è una esperienza molto recente in Italia, dove non era mai stata praticata prima delle restrizioni imposte dalla emergenza sanitaria. In quella occasione i terapeuti di gruppo hanno effettuato il passaggio dal setting in presenza a quello online apprendendo dalla esperienza diretta come gestire la relazione clinica mediata dallo schermo, in particolare rispetto alla amministrazione del setting, alle dinamiche del gruppo e allo stile di conduzione. Questi e altri fenomeni sono stati indagati attraverso un questionario compilato da 26 terapeuti di gruppo dopo tre mesi di pratica, che ha permesso di evidenziare impressioni, vissuti, difficolt&agr…

Carer’s experience of a brief systemic group intervention for Parents of young patients with Eating Disorders: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Several studies support the importance of involving parents of adolescents with eating disorders (ED) to facilitate successful treatment. This study explored the experiences of parents of adolescents with ED after having participated in a brief systemic group intervention. Methodology: Data were obtained from a group of 12 parents (mean age = 51,82 ys; sd = 6,40), of adolescent outpatients (mean age = 18 ys; ds = 2,83) with ED, carried out in an Italian public center specializing in ED treatment. All participants filled in a questionnaire constructed specifically for this study measuring group helpful events for the individual and for the family. The content analysis was perfo…

Psychometric Aspects of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire: Implications for Clinical Assessment and Research

The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) is a self-report measure that assesses self-criticism and dependency, 2 personality traits that confer vulnerability to depression (Blatt, 2004). Over several decades, different, shortened versions of the DEQ have been constructed to offer an alternative to the complex scoring procedure of the original DEQ. This study explores the factor structure as well as the construct and convergent validity of the DEQ by comparing a clinical and nonclinical sample. We also compared the original DEQ with 5 shortened versions. There were 621 participants (358 university students and 263 outpatients). Fit indexes for models of the original DEQ did not meet mi…

The role of emotion regulation and intolerance to uncertainty on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and distress

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic is increasing negative consequences on mental health around the globe. To date, research on what psychological factors could influence individuals’ distress is still scarce. The current study aims to test a multiple mediation model to examine the role of Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) and emotional regulation (i.e., expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal) as joint factors, which can increase understanding of psychological distress due to the COVID-19 outbreak. An online survey measuring fear of COVID-19, IU, emotional regulation, and psychological distress was administered to 3863 Italian adults (females 73.3%; Mage = 36.44; SD = 14.74) during lockdo…

Variazioni nel gruppo. Esiti e processo in un gruppo a lungo termine per pazienti gravi

IPOTESI E OBIETTIVI: a partire dall’ipotesi che all’interno di un gruppo semi aperto e a lungo termine, gli aspetti ciclici del processo (quali gli inserimenti, le dimissioni, e gli eventuali drop-out) causano una rimodulazione del campo gruppale, ripercuotendosi sull’esito individuale e di gruppo, il progetto si propone i seguenti obiettivi: - Analizzare i cambiamenti che si attivano nel processo terapeutico conseguentemente alle rimodulazioni del setting, monitorando l’andamento di alcune variabili (coesione e alleanza) lungo il corso del trattamento, e rilevando la relazione tra queste e l’esito del trattamento. - Valutare i cambiamenti dei pazienti su diversi piani (sintomi e meccanismi…

Measuring perfectionism, impulsivity, self-esteem and social anxiety: Cross-national study in emerging adults from eight countries.

This study assessed the measurement invariance of selected self-report measures of perfectionism, impulsivity, self-esteem and social anxiety in samples of emerging adults from eight different countries. Participants (N = 6272) completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, the 5-item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (5-item RSES) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS-6). Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was run to examine cross-measure equivalence. Evidence for structural invariance was found for all questionnaires, while weak invariance was supported only for the 5-item RSES and the SIAS-6, and a partial weak invariance was found …

Group analytic therapy for eating disorders: preliminary results in a single-group study.

Objectives There is a lack of empirical data on the effectiveness and process of group-analytic therapy in eating disorders. This single-group study aimed to explore the effectiveness of such treatment for anorexic and bulimic individuals. Method Eight patients (three anorexic and five bulimic women) entered group-analytic treatment, meeting weekly for 2 years. Eating behaviours, overall psychological distress and group process variables were regularly assessed using quantitative and qualitative measures, with comparisons made at the beginning and end of the therapy. Results Treatment was discontinued in two cases. When outcome was classified on the basis of reliable change and clinical sig…

Analysis of a psychodynamic therapeutic group process: Therapist technique and CORE themes.

Quality of life in Sicilian Patients on PD. Clinical and psychological changes with age and duration of treatment

Objective: In relation to chronological and dialytic age, we have studied for 6 months the quality of life (QoL) of 56 stable subjects on peritoneal dialysis (PD), and also nutritional, immunological, and dialytic efficiency factors, com- pared to psychological tests. Methods: We divided the patients (pts) into 4 age groups: G1 (up to 49 years), G2 (50–59 years), G3 (60–69 years), G4 (over 70 years). Age-based dialysis in months (m) in 3 groups: 1–12 m, 13–36 m, 37– 90 m. Clinical parameters: nutritional, immunological, and dialytic efficiency values: albumin, Hb, WBC, ferritin, C3, C4, BMI, IgG, IgA, IgM, C-reactive pro- tein (CRP), CA125, Ca19-9, GFR, Kt/V, CCL, PTH. Psychometric tests: S…

The Fertility Quality of Life Questionnaire (FertiQoL) Relational subscale: psychometric properties and discriminant validity across gender.

Study question Is the Fertility Quality of Life Questionnaire (FertiQoL)-Relational Scale a valid measure to assess the relational domain regarding quality of life in women and men undergoing infertility treatment? Summary answer The FertiQoL-Relational scale (FertiQoL-REL) showed good psychometric properties and captured core aspects of couple relationships. What is known already FertiQoL has become a gold standard for the assessment of infertility-related quality of life in patients undergoing assisted reproduction treatment (ART). Despite its growing importance, no previous studies have examined the convergent validity of the FertiQoL-REL and its discriminant validity across gender. Stud…

Is there a correlation between immunological and psychological parameters in PD?

Relazioni interpersonali, stati emotivi e autostima in soggetti obesi Binge Eaters.

Attachment anxiety and avoidance and perceptions of group climate: an actor-partner interdependence analysis.

There is a lack of research examining group members’ attachment styles and group climate perceptions in the context of the attachment styles and group climate perceptions of the other group members. In the current study, the actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) was used to examine the relationships among (a) a group member’s attachment pattern, (b) the aggregated attachment patterns of the other group members, (c) a group member’s perceptions of the group’s climate, and (d) the aggregated group climate perceptions of the other group members. One hundred ten Italian graduate students in six 10-session interpersonal growth groups were studied. Group members filled out the Attachment Sty…

Examining patients' and other group members' agreement about their alliance to the group as a whole and changes in patient symptoms using response surface analysis.

There is a lack of research examining patients' and other group members' agreement about their therapeutic alliance. In the present study, the person-group (P-G) fit model was adopted to predict that the group member symptom reduction will be greater when the group member's and the other group members' perceptions of their alliance to the group-as-a-whole fit and are high. In addition, the effect of disagreement between the group member and the other group members in their perceptions of the group alliance on the individual's outcome was investigated by using response surface analysis. Thirty-two patients from 5 long-term (> 1 year) psychodynamic group treatments were studied. Participants …

Pattern of interpersonal problems and mood states in the assessment of treatment-seeking-obese individuals

Patients with Binge Eating Disorder and Obesity have qualitatively different interpersonal characteristics: Results from an Interpersonal Circumplex study.

Background: Patients with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and obesity experience distressing relationships, which could trigger negative affect and over-eating. To date no studies compared the interpersonal profiles and prototypicality of both groups using the Interpersonal Circumplex.Method: A sample of 177 patients with BED (mean age: 41.0 +/- 12.5 years; 11.3% males), 321 obese non-BED adults (mean age: 44.5 +/- 13.4 years; 28% males), and 108 normal weight adults (mean age: 37.3 +/- 9.6 years; 52.77% males) completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32), and scales of binge eating and psychological distress at one time-point.Results: Compared to normal weight and obese participa…

The Codevelopment of Group Relationships: The Role of Individual Group Member's and Other Group Members' Mutual Influence and Shared Group Environment

Although recent research has provided empirical support for the codevelopment of group interaction (defined as development in a common direction of perceptions of group relationships), no studies have yet investigated the "causes" of codevelopment among group members in the long term. The aim of the current study is to examine how the perceptions of an individual group member, and other group members, regarding group relationships influence each other over the course of treatment. We analyzed group data from 168 adult obese patients who participated in (1 of 20) 12-session therapy groups for weight management. Group relationships were measured by the Group Questionnaire (Krogel et al., 2013…

Assessing positive body image, body satisfaction, weight bias, and appearance comparison in emerging adults: A cross-validation study across eight countries

Positive body image refers to individuals' ability to conceptualize their bodies with love, respect, and appreciation. The study of positive body image is relatively new, and instruments used to investigate this multi-faceted construct have received limited use in non-English speaking countries. Thus, the aim of this investigation is to consider four measures that are associated with positive body image across eight different countries. Participants (n = 6272) completed the Body Appreciation Scale-2, the Body Areas Satisfaction Scale, the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale, and the Weight Bias Internalization Scale. Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses (MG-CFAs) and item-response theo…

Countertransference responses mediate the relationship between patients' overall defense functioning and therapists' interventions.

Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between therapists' techniques (supportive/expressive intervention level - ESIL), therapists' countertransference (CT) and patients' defense level of functioning (ODF). We hypothesized that CT could play a mediating role in the relationship between patients' ODF and therapists' ESIL. Method: 65 psychotherapy sessions were rated by two different raters each with the Psychodynamic Interventions Rating Scale and the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scale. Clinicians used the Therapist Response Questionnaire to provide information on their CT. The 65 sessions referred to 65 clinicians (25 = females, 40 = males; 38 = psychodynamic, 27 …

The transition to online psychotherapy during the pandemic: a qualitative study on patients' perspectives

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has substantially increased online psychotherapies due to the impossibility of participating in vis-a-vis settings. In the last years, research about online therapy has been quickly growing. However, until now, few studies investigated patients' perspective about the transition to online psychotherapy and, specifically, no qualitative research in group therapy has been done on this topic. This study aimed to explore the experience of 51 patients (39 group patients and 12 from individual psychotherapies) who continued psychotherapy in the online setting during the COVID-19 outbreak. A structured online questionnaire with open answers investiga…

Alleanza terapeutica ed effectiveness nella terapia analitica di gruppo con pazienti con disturbo del comportamento alimentare

Dimensioni di personalità in soggetti obesi BED e NON-BED.

Introduzione Pochi studi hanno esaminato la presenza di differenti dimensioni di personalità in soggetti obesi BED e non-BED (Peterson et al., 2010) e i risultati appaiono ancora poco chiari. Lo studio si propone di: a) confrontare le dimensioni di personalità in soggetti obesi BED e non-BED; b) approfondire l’associazione tra stili di personalità e comportamenti binge in relazione ad altre variabili sintomatiche. Metodo 143 soggetti adulti obesi non-BED e 60 soggetti obesi BED che hanno richiesto un trattamento presso un sevizio pubblico sui disturbi alimentari, hanno compilato i seguenti strumenti di assessment: MCMI-III (Millon, 1997), BES (Gormally et al, 1982), OQ-45 (Lambert et al., 2…

Psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 lockdown: A two-wave network analysis

Abstract Background Although preliminary research has evidenced negative psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic among the general population, little research has been carried out examining the interplay among the broader dimensions and correlates of individual distress. Via network analysis, the current study investigated the pathways that underlie some components of psychological distress and their changes over time (during and post COVID-19-related lockdown). Methods 1,129 adult participants (79.1% women) completed a two-wave online survey during and after the lockdown, and reported on variables such as depression, anxiety, stress, fear of COVID, intolerance of uncertainty, e…

L’adattamento italiano del Group Questionnaire (GQ): risultati preliminari in gruppi di training universitario.

La comprensione del processo clinico e terapeutico nei gruppi, l’elaborazione concettuale sui costrutti della relazione terapeutica, l’indagine sulla sovrapposizione concettuale (e statistica) dei costrutti Clima di gruppo, Coesione ed Alleanza sono alla base della proposta del Group Questionnaire - GQ (Burlingame, McClendon, Alonso, 2011), self-report di 30 item, che fornisce informazioni sulla qualità delle relazioni in gruppo. Il Group Questionnaire - GQ si differenzia dagli strumenti precedentemente usati perché fondato su una teoria unificata della relazione gruppale (Johnson et al, 2005, 2008; Bormann and Strauss, 2007; Bakali et al, 2008), che individua un modello a tre fattori: Lega…

A cross-country examination of emotional eating, restrained eating and intuitive eating: Measurement Invariance across eight countries

This study examined the measurement invariance of three scales that assessed emotional eating, restrained eating, and intuitive eating across eight countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Spain and the United States) in order to determine their suitability for cross-country body image research. A total of 6272 young adults took part in this study. Participants completed an online survey including the Emotional Eating subscale of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-Revised 21, the Restraint subscale of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, and the Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues subscale of The Intuitive Eating Scale-2. Multi-group confirmatory factor analy…

Caratteristiche psicologiche dei soggetti obesi: l'influenza dei comportamenti Binge eating

The relationship between attachment dimensions and perceptions of group relationships over time: An actor–partner interdependence analysis.

A group member’s attachment, anxiety, and avoidance is related to how the group member and the other group members (OGMs) perceive group relationships. In addition, the collective attachment strategies of the OGMs may also be related to how the individual group member and the others perceive the relationships in the group. We extend previous research, using the actor partner interdependence model (APIM), to examine how group members’ and aggregated OGMs’ attachment anxiety and avoid- ance were related to group members’ and OGMs perceptions of positive bonding, positive working, and negative relationships measured early and late in interpersonal growth groups. Three hundred twenty-five Itali…

Lo SCaT – Codice di Analisi dello Stile del Campo Terapeutico: Sviluppi e validazione di uno strumento per l’analisi del campo terapeutico di gruppo

The psychological impact of COVID-19 on people suffering from dysfunctional eating behaviours: a linguistic analysis of the contents shared in an online community during the lockdown.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread several months ago from China and it is now a global pandemic. The experience of lockdown has been an undesirable condition for people with mental health problems, including eating disorders. The present study has the aim of understanding the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with selfreported disordered eating behaviours. A linguistic analysis was carried out with regard to the online posts and comments published by 1971 individuals (86% women) in a Facebook online community focusing on EDs during the lockdown. A total of 244 posts and 3603 comments were collected during the 56 days of lockdown (from the 10th of March…

Una ricerca empirica su gruppoanalisi e DCA

A research study about supervision effectiveness

Esito e cambiamento nelle psicoterapie di gruppo tra ricerca e clinica

Obesity and Interpersonal Problems: An Analysis with the Interpersonal Circumplex

This study examines the interpersonal problems profiles of obese individuals by cluster analysing the interpersonal problems circumplex scores of participants. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems—Short Circumplex (IIP-32) was completed by 368 treatment-seeking obese individuals. These data were cluster analysed, and groups of obese subjects defined by varying interpersonal problems were compared with regard to psychological distress, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, quality of life and binge behaviours. Cluster analyses of the IIP-32 resulted in four clusters, which occupied two quadrants of the interpersonal circumplex. Several differences in body mass index, psychological distress, …

ALLEANZA DI LAVORO E RELAZIONE REALE NELLE TERAPIE SVOLTE PRESSO UN SERVIZIO DI COUNSELLING UNIVERSITARIO

Examining the relationship between group member gender, gender composition, and outcomes of weight management therapy groups

Presently there is a lack of evidence regarding the impact of gender composition of mixed-gender weight management therapy groups on members' posttreatment outcomes. As such, the current study tested the association between the gender composition of mixed-gender narrative therapy groups for weight management and members' posttreatment outcomes. Specifically, we examined the variability in group members' adjusted posttreatment psychological (Outcome Questionnaire-45 [OQ-45]) and obesity-related (Obesity Related Well-Being [ORWELL 97]) symptoms as a function of the quadratic proportion of female members in a group, and the interaction between group member gender and the quadratic proportion o…

Group treatment for substance use disorder in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials

Abstract Background and aims From residential programs to outpatient services, group therapy permeates the clinical field of substance misuse. While several group interventions for substance use disorders (SUDs) have demonstrated effectiveness, the existing evidence on group therapy has not been systematically reviewed. The current meta-analysis aims to provide estimates of the efficacy of group therapy for SUDs in adults using rigorous methods. Methods We included studies comparing group psychotherapy to no treatment control groups, individual psychotherapy, medication, self-help groups, and other active treatments applying no specific psychotherapeutic techniques for patients with substan…

La percezione del supporto sociale ed emotivo nel processo di adattamento alla malattia: uno studio con pazienti oncologici e loro caregivers.

Purpose: this study aims to investigate the role of social and emotional support in predicting patient adjustment to cancer. Patients and method: 80 patients with I stage cancer (mean age: 56,02) and their respective caregivers (mean age: 46,4) are included in the study. Participants are recruited in an outpatient oncology clinic. Most of patients (71,2%) have a breast cancer, and are treated with conservative surgery and mastectomy. Most of caregivers (78,7%) belong to patients’ family. Results and discussion: patients’ perception of social support from friends and emotional support given to caregivers predict a better adjustment to cancer, reducing negative feelings and a resigned attitud…

Generalizability of normative data for the OQ-45: A study with an Italian outpatient group

Le caratteristiche di personalità nei pazienti obesi. Uno studio con il MCMI-III

Il processo di adattamento psicologico dei caregivers alla patologia oncologica.

Sex composition and group climate: A group actor−partner interdependence analysis.

There is a lack of research examining how the proportion of women and men in a group effects both the group member’s perception of group climate and the aggregated perceptions of group climate for the other group members. We adapted the group actor–partner interdependence model (GAPIM; Kenny & Garcia, 2012) to examine how the perception of the group’s climate by a group member and by the other group members are related to the group member’s sex and the sex of the other group members. In addition, we examined how similar the group member’s sex was to the sex of the other group members by analyzing the interaction between the two sex variables. A total of 110 Italian graduate students (96 wom…

The Factorial Structure of the Outcome Questionnaire-45: A Study with an Italian Sample.

In this article, the authors study the factorial structure of the Italian translation of the Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45) in a sample of college students (n = 522) and psychiatric outpatients (n = 301). The relative goodness of fit of six competing models of the OQ-45 was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Specifically, the study examined the relative fit of the most frequently presented models in the literature and three alternative models. Results of the CFA provided support for the four factor bi-level solution, suggesting that the OQ-45 is a multidimensional instrument that contains one general factor and multiple unique subscale factors.

Analysis Code of Style in therapeutic fields: the development and validity of an instrument for analysis, in the field of group therapy

La ricerca in psicoterapia di gruppo: Alcuni risultati e future direzioni di ricerca

Questo articolo prova ad esaminare alcuni risultati principali nella ricerca sulla terapia di gruppo, così come le direzioni future di ricerca in questo ambito. Sono stati esaminati i risultati degli studi raccolti dal gruppo di ricerca del Dipartimento di Psicologia dell’Università di Palermo. In particolare, in questo articolo vengono esaminate le questioni teoriche e metodologiche sulla psicoterapia di gruppo, l'efficacia clinica della terapia di gruppo con diverse popolazioni cliniche (disturbi alimentari, disturbi d’ansia) e la relazione tra caratteristiche del paziente, variabili di processo (clima ed alleanza di gruppo) e l'esito della terapia. Complessivamente, da questa rasse…

Vissuti emotivi e bisogni non soddisfatti nei caregivers familiari di soggetti con disturbo del comportamento alimentare.

Introduzione ed obiettivi: Nella ricerca clinica, il termine carer viene utilizzato per riferirsi a quelle persone direttamente coinvolte o con un ruolo significativo nella vita di un soggetto con un disturbo mentale. Finora è stata condotta poca ricerca sulla specificità dei caregivers di pazienti con disturbi alimentari. I disturbi del comportamento alimentare (ED) pongono diverse sfide ai caregivers, come la mancanza di informazioni, scarso supporto sociale e comprensione, burden psicologico. Questo studio esplorativo di tipo cross-sectional si focalizza sui bisogni psicologici e sull’esperienza di assistenza dei carers di pazienti con un disturbo alimentare, con l’obiettivo di esplorare…

"Relation of the real relationship and the working alliance to the outcome of brief psychotherapy": Correction to Lo Coco, Gullo, Prestano, and Gelso (2011).

Analysis of real relationship and working alliance of client-therapist pairs at a university counseling center

A first study about the italian adaptation of the OQ-45.2

Group relationships in early and late sessions and improvement in interpersonal problems.

Groups are more effective when positive bonds are established and interpersonal conflicts resolved in early sessions and work is accomplished in later sessions. Previous research has provided mixed support for this group development model. We performed a test of this theoretical perspective using group members' (actors) and aggregated group members' (partners) perceptions of positive bonding, positive working, and negative group relationships measured early and late in interpersonal growth groups. Participants were 325 Italian graduate students randomly (within semester) assigned to 1 of 16 interpersonal growth groups. Groups met for 9 weeks with experienced psychologists using Yalom and Le…

La ricerca in psicoterapia

Relation of the real relationship and the working alliance to the outcome of brief psychotherapy.

In this study, the (a) association of the client- and therapist-rated strength of the real relationship to the outcome of brief psychotherapy, and (b) extent to which the real relationship predicted outcome above and beyond the predictive power of the working alliance were examined. A total of 50 clients at the counseling center of a university in Italy received brief therapy and completed measures before treatment, after the third session, and at the end of treatment. From the clients' perspective, both the Genuineness element of the real relationship and the Bond scale of the working alliance were found to relate significantly to treatment outcome. When we examined the real relationship a…

The role of attachment style, state-anxiety and partners concerns in predicting infertility-related stress in couples undergoing their first IVF treatment

Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance: Members’ Attachment Fit with Their Group and Group Relationships

We compared each individual group member’s attachment fit with the attachment of the other group members. Participants were 201 members of 20 therapy groups who sought treatment because they were overweight or obese. Group members completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire before commencing treatment and the Group Questionnaire at three points during group treatment. Multilevel polynomial regression followed by response surface analysis was used to examine how the attachment anxiety and avoidance of the individual group member and the aggregated attachment anxiety and avoidance of the group members were related to individual group members’ perceptions of the positive bonding, positive wor…

Early and Later Predictors of Outcome in Brief Therapy: The Role of Real Relationship

Objectives: The study examined whether clients who continued longer in brief therapy reported stronger associations of real relationship and working alliance with therapy outcome than clients who received very brief treatment. It also examined whether real relationship and working alliance assessed early in treatment predicted outcome differently from that assessed later in therapy. Method: Fifty clients (32 women; Mage = 22.3 years) were recruited from a university counseling center. Thirty- two clients (very brief therapy) completed the post-third session assessment of real relationship and working alliance, and 18 (brief therapy) had both the third and eighth assessment. Results: The rea…