A longitudinal study of emotional experience, expressivity, and psychopathology in psychotherapy inpatients and psychologically healthy persons

Abstract

The authors investigated changes of emotional experience and expressivity in 34 inpatients undergoing psychodynamic therapy and in 29 healthy persons who were assessed at parallel time intervals. Participants completed 2 measures of psychopathology (Symptom Checklist-90 Revised and Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-64) and took part in relationship episode interviews. The emotional experiences they reported and their nonverbal emotional expressivity during the interviews were assessed by independent raters. Regardless of when they were assessed, the patients reported a greater number of emotions and a greater variety of emotions. Psychopathology in the patient group decreased in the course of treatment, but there were no systematic changes in the emotional domain. The findings challenge the common notion of psychopathology being associated with impaired awareness and expression of emotions.

Interpersonal Change Following Intensive Inpatient Treatment

“…As with previous studies, absolute reductions were noted across each IIP domain (e.g., Haase et al, 2008; Leising et al, 2010; Renner et al, 2012; Watzke et al, 2012; Wilberg et al, 1998). 4 However, the present data are the first to indicate categorical shifts away from dysfunctional Submissive and Hostile/Withdrawn profiles following intervention.…”

“…While symptom reduction has been the dominant focus of treatment outcome studies, a considerable literature has developed over several decades indicating concomitant improvement in both psychiatric and interpersonal functioning across a number of modalities and treatment settings (Bartak et al, 2009; Creed et al, 1990; Dinger et al, 2007; Haase et al, 2008; Kecmanovic, 1985; Latini et al, 2009; Leising et al, 2010; Schene, Van Wijngaarden, Poelijoe, & Gersons, 1993; Sledge et al, 1996; Watzke et al, 2012; Wilberg et al, 1998). For the current study, heterogeneous patterns of interpersonal behavior were assessed at both admission and at discharge.…”

“…Interpersonal style also is has been shown to influence therapeutic alliance, process, and outcome among persons receiving inpatient care (e.g., Dinger, Strack, Leichsenring, & Schauenburg 2007; Haase et al, 2008). A number of treatment modalities have documented positive interpersonal change among individuals presenting with a history of psychiatric hospitalization (e.g., Bartak et al, 2009; Creed et al, 1990; Latini et al, 2009; Leising, Grande, & Faber, 2010; Sledge et al, 1996; Wilberg, Karterud, Urnes, Pedersen, & Friis, 1998) but few studies have evaluated alterations in more complex patterns of dysfunction. Aims of the current study were to identify profiles of interpersonal difficulty characteristic of psychiatric inpatients and to evaluate adaptive shifts in potentially maladaptive profiles following brief (i.e., several-week) intensive inpatient treatment.…”

Brief inpatient psychotherapeutic technique.

“…Also, people differ in their preferred coping styles (e.g., avoids and/or engages in actively arousing situations). Numerous researchers have studied the relationships between psychiatric distress and inefficiencies in emotional experience and expression (Greenberg, 2004; Greenberg & Pascual-Leone, 2006; Greenberg & Safran, 1989; Leising, Grande, & Faber, 2010; Sifneos, 1972). Another stated goal is to help patients explore how emotions influence and guide their behavior, particularly with regard to the current hospitalization and assist them in learning how to experience and effectively manage these feelings in the moment.…”

Cross-Cultural Examination of Emotional Expressivity, Beliefs About Emotions, and Depression of University Students

“…Individual's disparate in terms of emotion expression degree is conceptualized as emotional expressivity (Kring, Smith, & Neale, 1994). Despite some suggestions pointing out contradictory results (Leising, Grande, & Faber, 2010) regarding the relationship of emotional experience and expressivity with psychopathology, i.e., revealing a change in psychopathological symptoms and no change in emotional expressivity following psychotherapy, the general claim is different. According to plenty of health professionals, emotional experience and expressivity are related to psychopathology (Greenberg, & Pascual-Leone, 2006;McCullough, 2001).…”