Predicting brief psychotherapy outcomes through dynamic assessment of initial interviews

Abstract

This study examined the potential of using dynamic assessments of state anxiety during the initial interviews to predict the outcomes of psychotherapy. The author assessed 57 clients exhibiting high trait anxiety, evaluating changes in state anxiety at the beginning and conclusion of the initial interviews. Subsequently, the clients underwent time-limited, brief psychotherapy over four sessions, and the efficacy of the therapy was assessed approximately one month post-termination. The findings indicated that the psychotherapy reduced trait anxiety and improved anxiety-soothing functions. Moreover, clients who experienced a decrease in state anxiety during the initial interview demonstrated a trend of diminishing trait anxiety throughout the therapeutic interventions. This signified that the alterations in state anxiety during the initial interview served as a predictor for psychotherapy outcomes.