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The relationships between the object (person) focus of therapist interpretations and outcome were examined for 21 patients who received short-term individual psychotherapy. Percentages of single objects and linked objects, e.g. therapist-parent link, were derived from an analysis of the therapy sessions. Patients, therapists and an independent assessor provided pre-therapy, post-therapy and six-month follow-up outcome scores. Contrary to other reports in the literature little evidence was found to support the hypothesis of a direct linear relationship between object focus and favourable outcome. Several explanations for the findings are discussed.

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A set of criteria for psychoanalytic work that can be used to define various forms of psychoanalytic therapy is proposed. Four patients who were involved in short-term individual psychotherapy with the same therapist, but who evidenced considerably different therapy process and outcome, are used to illustrate the criteria. Implications for practice and research are cited.

No abstract