title: Changes in self and object representations following psychotherapy measured by a theory-free, computational, semantic space method.
abstract: We propose a theory-neutral, computational and data-driven method for assessing changes in semantic content of object representations following long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Young adults in psychotherapy are compared with an age-matched, non-clinical sample at three time points. Verbatim transcripts of descriptions of the self and parents were quantified in a semantic space constructed by Latent Semantic Analysis. In the psychotherapy group, all representations changed from baseline to follow-up, whereas no comparable changes could be observed in the comparison group. The semantic space method supports the hypothesis that long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy contributes to sustained change of affective-cognitive schemas of self and others.
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Department of Psychology, Cognitive Unit, Sweden.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arvidsson
authors.forename: Sverker
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sikström
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Werbart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012649:Self Concept; D012660:Semantics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult