Application of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology in psychotherapy impact research: Experience of psychotherapy of a person with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Psychotherapy’s impact and effectiveness have been explored through the use of quantitative research methods such as standardised inventories and scales measuring mainly behavioural and overt aspects of the psychotherapeutic encounter and symptom reduction. Nonetheless, change in psychotherapy is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon, requiring open-ended investigation to reveal the beneficial factors that are part of the process. This paper will demonstrate how Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) can be applied in studying the psychotherapy process’s favourable aspects from the client’s perspective. We argue that IPA’s epistemological underpinnings and methods for collecting and analysing data can contribute to the study of psychotherapy’s impact. A case of a woman confronting the challenges of multiple sclerosis and illness symptomatology by undergoing psychodynamic psychotherapy is presented and analysed drawing on IPA guidelines.

The experience of psychological therapies for people with multiple sclerosis: A mixed‐methods study towards a patient‐centred approach to exploring processes of change

“…Qualitative data collection and analysis followed the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) guidelines (Smith et al, 2009). IPA's contributions to psychotherapy effectiveness and change process research designs have been explicated (Fragkiadaki et al, 2021). The longitudinal IPA design allows researchers to explore changes over time (Farr & Nizza, 2019) and is recommended for research that examines participating in an intervention as it adds the temporal dimension for events that "unfold over time" (Smith et al, 2022, p. 127).…”

“…The limitations of these designs have been explicated in the psychotherapy research literature, especially considering the complexity of processes that cannot be quantifiable or measured in inventories, such as the unique characteristics of the clients' experiences and the development of the therapeutic relationship (Hill et al, 2013). Qualitative research methods reveal the complexity of change processes and how clients relate them to the psychological therapies they have engaged in (Hill et al, 2013), offering significant insights that link theory to practice (Fragkiadaki et al, 2021).…”

“…Qualitative research methods reveal the complexity of change processes and how clients relate them to the psychological therapies they have engaged in (Hill et al, 2013), offering significant insights that link theory to practice (Fragkiadaki et al, 2021).…”