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NCT Number: NCT00423462

First Experimental Study of Transference-Interpretations (FEST)

Analysis of the ongoing patient-therapist interaction, the transference, is considered a key active ingredient in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.However, one century after Sigmund Freuds's famous "Dora" case, the first clinical description of transference, no study of transference interpretations have been published.In the present study 100 out-patients were randomized to receive one year weekly dynamic psychotherapy, with and without transference interpretations. That is, one treatment component,transference interpretations, were added to a comparison condition, therapy of the same format, by the same therapists, but without use of transference interpretation.

All treatment session were audiotaped, and treatment integrity have been carefully checked. Patients were evaluated at treatment termination, one year after treatment termination and three years after treatment termination. Enrollment of patients started january 1993, and all follow-up evaluations completed by December 2005.

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Key information

Conditions

Mood Disorders Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders Personality Disorders

Age range

20 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2 / Phase 3

Primary location

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo

Oslo, 0881 Oslo, Norway

About this study

This study is designed to measure specific long-term effects of transference interpretations in dynamic psychotherapy, using an experimental dismantling design. One hundred psychiatric out-patients, referred to seven study therapists, to receive exploratory dynamic psychotherapy, were randomized to one year weekly dynamic psychotherapy, with and without transference interpretations.They suffered from mood,anxiety,and personality disorders or interpersonal problems not due to a mental disorder. All treatment sessions were audiotaped and treatment integrity carefully checked.All patients have been evaluated before treatment, after treatment, one year after termination of treatment, and three years after termination of treatment. The main outcome measures were the Psychodynamic Functioning Scales (PFS) and Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex version (IIP-C).Chang over time is assessed using linear mixed model analyses.

The main hypothesis is that patients treated with transference interpretations will have a more favourable course over the whole study period of four years.

The second hypothesis is that suitable patients, that is patients with a life long pattern of more mature object relations (QOR) and/or patients without comorbid personality disorders will do better with transference interpretations.

Insight and identification with the therapist will be analyzed as putative mediators of long-term change in interpersonal functioning

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 20 - 60 years
  • Diagnoses Mood-disorder, non-psychotic
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Interpersonal problems not due to a mental disorder

Exclusion criteria

  • Psychotic disorders
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Organic brain disorder
  • Substance abuse
  • Long-term (years) disability
  • Mental retardation

Treatment and study plan

Brief dynamic psychotherapy

Behavioral

Primary outcomes

  1. The Psychodynamic Functioning Scales (PFS), clinician rated

  2. Inventory if Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex version (IIP-C), self-report

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF)

  2. Global Severity Index (GSI) from SCL-90-R

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Oslo

Other

Collaborators

  • The Research Council of Norway

Registry information

Official study title

First Experimental Study of Transference Interpretations (FEST)

Important dates

Study start
1993
Study completion
2005
First posted
Jan 18, 2007
Registry last updated
Aug 27, 2007

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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