title: Change in self-discrepancy, anxiety, and depression in individual therapy.
abstract: This study tested hypotheses of change in the real-ideal (RI) and real-ought (RO) self-discrepancies over the course of therapy, based on Rogers's (1959) theory of personality change in therapy. Before and after therapy with 20 therapists of diverse theoretical orientations at a university counseling center, 99 undergraduate and graduate students completed three instruments that measure both self-discrepancies: the Self-Concept Questionnaire--Personal Constructs, the Self-Concept Questionnaire--Conventional Constructs, and the Abstract Measures. Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Trait scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-R Anxiety and Depression scales. Therapy outcome showed substantial decreases on all measures. Changes in the RI and RO self-discrepancies were associated with changes in anxiety and depression. Change in the RI self-discrepancy was associated with change in the RO self-discrepancy. Decreases in self-discrepancy comprised increases in real self and decreases in ideal self and ought self. Findings were independent of therapist theoretical orientation. The findings support the use of the self-discrepancy instruments in future research on therapy process and outcome. The findings also provide a basis for incorporating the self-discrepancy constructs into theory and research on mechanisms of therapeutic change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of William and Mary.
authors.forename: Neill
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of William and Mary.
authors.forename: Brandon C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of William and Mary.
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Thrash
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult