title: Topics and signs: defensive control of emotional expression.
abstract: This single-case study examined frank disclosure of important topics in a brief exploratory psychotherapy, including topics closely related to a recent, unintegrated stressor life event. Quantitative measures of emotion and control variables showed heightened levels of both emotionally and defensive control during discourse on the topic of the stressor event. In future studies, such measures of verbal and nonverbal signs of emotional expression and defensive control might be used to identify topics in an unresolved state.
authors.affiliation: Langley Porter Psychiatric Instiute, UCSF 94143.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stinson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ewert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Redington
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mergenthaler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milbrath
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hartley
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001143:Arousal; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy