The Penn Psychoanalytic Treatment Collection: a Set of Complete and Recorded Psychoanalyses as a Research Resource

Abstract

From a set of seventeen complete and tape-recorded psychoanalyses, a sample of findings is presented: (a) the level of agreement of two clinical judges on the psychological health of these patients is adequate for the late sessions, but not for the early sessions; (b) the amount of change during psychoanalysis appears to be similar to that in the Menninger Foundation Psychotherapy Research Project; (c) psychiatric severity measures from the early sessions can yield a significant level of prediction of the later benefits from psychoanalysis. Finally, further research uses of this collection of psychoanalyses are suggested.

Changes in Defensive Functioning in Completed Psychoanalyses: the Penn Psychoanalytic Treatment Collection

“…As per Luborsky et al, (2001), a similar percentage of subjects showed similar overall improvements in their general functioning according to the Health Sickness Rating Scale (76% of subjects improved), the Global Assessment of Functioning (76% of subjects improved), and the SSI (65% of subjects improved). The percentages of subjects with statistically significant improvements were smaller, in particular for the defensive functioning variables.…”

“…No overall change was seen in the neurotic level defenses. A significant increase in general functioning was observed, according to the HSRS and the GAF (Luborsky et al, 2001). As shown in Table 5, the pre-post within condition effect size (ES) for ODF was large and significant (ES=0.76±1.09, p=0.01).…”

“…Using the sample of 17 subjects from the Penn Psychoanalytic Treatment Collection, with completed tape-recorded psychoanalyses (the same sample used in the present study), Luborsky et al (2001) found that 65% (11/17) of subjects showed some or much improvement at termination, according to the Finally, a feasibility study by Vaughan et al (2000) found that, despite a small sample size ( Such an occurrence would indeed illustrate the constraints on empirical research that are imposed by the strong resistance among the psychoanalytic profession to promote and support it. An important task of psychoanalytic researchers will be to improve the prevailing negative attitudes about research (Kernberg, 2002).…”

“…Its score varies from 1 to 100, with the higher score corresponding to the hypothetically healthiest individual (Endicott et al 1976). GAF ratings of the sample were also previously collected by two different judges (Luborsky et al, 2001), and the inter-rater reliabilities were: Rs-early sessions = 0.30 (n.s. ); -Iate sessions = 0.51 (p=0.04).…”

“…An overall score of 6 or greater is consistent with "some improvement", and a score of 7 or greater is consistent with "much improvement". The SSI ratings were also previously collected by two independent judges (Luborsky, 2001). …”