title: Predictors of differential response to cognitive, experiential, and self-directed psychotherapeutic procedures.
abstract: Group cognitive therapy (CT), focused expressive psychotherapy (FEP; a form of group experiential psychotherapy), and supportive, self-directed therapy (S/SD) were compared among 63 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Variation among patients' coping styles (externalization) and defensiveness (resistance potential) was used in a prospective test of hypothesized differential treatment-patient interactions. Results suggest that patient characteristics can be used differentially to assign psychotherapy types. Externalizing depressed patients improved more than nonexternalizing depressed patients in CT, whereas nonexternalizing (internalizing) patients improved most in S/SD. Conversely, high defensive (resistant) patients improved more in S/SD than in either FEP or CT, whereas low defensive patients improved more in CT than in S/SD.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Beutler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Engle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Daldrup
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bergan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Merry
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010553:Personality Development; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*