Focusing on Patients' Existing Resources and Strengths in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Integrating a stronger focus on patients' existing strengths in traditional psychotherapy approaches is suggested by recent developments in psychological science, positive psychology, and psychotherapy research. However, the empirical status of treatments focusing on patients' existing strengths is unclear. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review (PROSPERO registration CRD42017054362) of studies on adaptations of traditional treatment approaches (e. g., cognitive-behavior therapy or psychodynamic therapy) explicitly focused on using patients' existing resources and strengths (hereafter, resource-focused treatments; RFT). Methods: Extensive systematic literature search yielded k = 11 treatment comparisons from 10 studies contrasting RFTs with either an alternative psychotherapeutic approach or wait list. Effect sizes controlling for pre-treatment differences (gPPWC) and standard Hedges's g effect sizes (gPOWC) were aggregated with random-effects methods Results: Across 8 direct comparisons, RFTs were superior to other psychotherapeutic approaches, as indicated by small to moderate (gPPWC = -0.349, 95 % CI -0.576, -0.122, p = .003, I2 = 46.50 %) and small effect sizes (gPOWC = -0.190, 95 % CI -0.355, -0.025, p = .024, I2 = 0.00 %) in favor of RFTs. Sensitivity analyses corroborated results. Many included studies were characterized by limited sample size, risk of bias or researcher allegiance. Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed preliminary evidence for the benefits of RFTs and suggests an intensification of further research efforts. The evidence was most convincing for hypnotherapeutic-systemic interventions as an add-on for cognitive-behavioral therapy.

[Does Personality Organization Influence Day Clinic Treatment Success? Results of a Longitudinal Study]. / Beeinflusst das Strukturniveau den Erfolg tagesklinischer Behandlung? Ergebnisse einer Längsschnittuntersuchung.

We conducted an exploratory questionnaire-based study (n=63) to assess the importance of personality organization for therapy success in a day treatment setting. Patients completed self-report measures at the beginning and end of treatment spanning 4-6 week capturing impairments in personality organization (IPO-16), acute symptom severity (SCL-90-R, BDI-2), personality disorders (ADP-IV), and traumatic experiences in childhood and adolescence (CTQ). We observed strong associations between impairments in personality organization, personality pathology, traumatic experiences, and acute symptom severity. Impairments in personality organization did not change during treatment. In contrast to other studies, an influence of personality organization on treatment success could not be demonstrated. The importance of personality organization for therapy planning should be studied further.