Group experience as a differential curative factor in inpatient psychotherapy of depressed patients

According to their primary personality traits, depressed patients often are divided in preoccupied-dependent vs. fearful-avoidant subjects. We tested the assumption that group cohesion exerts a differential influence on the outcome in these two groups: Avoidant patients are assumed to show better therapy results with a growing feeling of cohesion, whereas preoccupied patients might get better with a lower cohesion, which we interpret as a sign of better individuation. The sample consists of 73 inpatients with varying affective disorders, mean duration of treatment 12 weeks. outcome measurement with SCL90 R, personality assessment with the IIP, weekly assessment of process variables, e.g. group cohesion with the Stationserfahrungsbogen - SEB (Sammet and Schauenburg 2000). Results are obtained by calculation of three regression parameters for the treatment course and by calculation of multiple regression for the prediction of therapy outcome. Personality variables alone do not predict therapy outcome but avoidant patients get better while experiencing high cohesion and preoccupied patients have a better outcome when they describe lower cohesion. Results confirm that depressed patients need different therapy foci according to their primary personality traits (individuation vs. acceptance of intimacy).