[Psychophysiology as a predictor for treatment outcome: a pilot-study].
To test the possibility of predicting psychotherapy outcome by measures of cardiovascular adaptability to stress at the beginning of treatment we used a prospective, within-subject design with experimental induction of short-term stress. Cardiovascular data during induced stress (mental arithmetic, anger recall) and relaxation were assessed in 21 patients with a main diagnosis of depression at the beginning of their 12-week inpatient psychotherapy treatment. Lower change scores in blood pressure during induced stress at the beginning of therapy were significantly related to better treatment outcome, accounting for 41% of variance, even after controlling for several covariates. Furthermore, there was evidence for the impact of negative affect. Using cardiovascular stress testing as an additional area of information seems a feasible method of incorporating biological parameters in psychotherapy evaluation.
Ehrenthal
Johannes C
JC
Universität Heidelberg, Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin und Psychosomatik, Heidelberg. johannes.ehrenthal@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Fey
Marco
M
Herrmann-Lingen
Christoph
C
Schauenburg
Henning
H
D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011603:Psychophysiology; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012063:Relaxation / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome