Should supportive measures and relational variables be considered a part of psychoanalytic technique? Some empirical considerations

This article presents some quantitative findings from a survey of 89 psychoanalysts (all members of the American Psychoanalytic Association or the International Psychoanalytical Association) about their own experiences in analysis. A comprehensive questionnaire was used to collect retrospective data about (1) how participants felt they benefited from their analyses and (2) how they remembered their analysts’ technique, personality, and style of relating. A correlational analysis found that, according to our participants’ ratings, the most beneficial analyses were associated with having a caring and emotionally engaged analyst who possessed positive relational and personality qualities, used supportive techniques in addition to classical techniques, and pursued therapeutic as well as analytic goals. Outcomes rated as successful were also associated with experiencing a good ‘fit’, a good working relationship, and a positive therapeutic alliance. Our results support the call for an expanded view of acceptable analytic technique (e.g. Schacter and Kächele, 2007) .     

Conflicting directional and locational cues afforded by arrowhead cursors in graphical user interfaces

Task-irrelevant features of arowhead cursors may generate conflict during cursor placement within graphical user interfaces. Arrowheads can signify location, but also cue direction and feature in optical illusions. To address the influence of conflicting cues, 14 participants used arrowhead cursors (standard, oversized) pointing upward or downward to move to targets (7.5, 15-mm diameter) situated at the top or bottom of the screen. Compatible arrowhead orientation improved response initiation. Cursor size, orientation, direction of motion, and target size interacted during cursor movement. Overshooting occurred for oversized cursors in the direction the arrow pointed for larger targets. Larger compatible arrowhead cursors elicit less efficient cursor positioning movements that are more susceptible to illusory processes, posing implications for design of cursors and graphical user interfaces.     

Assessing Interpersonal Subtypes in Depression

The context-free diagnoses outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders might not provide enough information to represent the heterogeneity observed in depressed patients. Interpersonal factors have been linked to depression in a mutually influencing pathoplastic relationship where certain problems, like submissiveness, are related to symptom chronicity. This study evaluated interpersonal pathoplasticity in a range of depressive presentations. We examined archival data collected from 407 participants who met criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymic disorder (DD), or subthreshold depression (sD). Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified 5 interpersonal subtypes (vindictive, intrusive, socially avoidant, exploitable, and cold). Apart from gender, the subtypes did not differ significantly on demographic characteristics, psychiatric comorbidity, or self-report depression severity. Socially avoidant participants were more likely to meet criteria for a clinical depression diagnosis (MDD or DD), whereas vindictive participants were more likely to have sD. Our results indicate that interpersonal problems could account for heterogeneity observed in depression.     

Early attrition among suicidal clients

The study aimed to identify the level of suicidal ideation in early attrition clients and their reasons for the early termination of their therapy. The cross-sectional design involved early attrition clients (C_A) who withdrew from therapy before their second session (n?=?61), and continuing clients who (C_C) progressed beyond their second session (n?=?73). All completed the Suicidal Behaviours Questionnaire-Revised scale, and the C_A group also completed the Reasons for Terminating Therapy Scale. Clients were significantly more likely to disengage if they were self-referred, had no health-care support or had lower suicidal ideation. The study identifies the significant role of suicidal ideation and referral source in therapy retention and the implications this has for therapists and counsellors.