Interpersonal problems in psychosomatic patients undergoing in-patient psychotherapy

Whereas symptom-oriented methods have often been applied to assess the effects of psychotherapy, little attention has so far been paid in quantitative research to the field of interpersonal problems. In this investigation the type and severity of the patients' interpersonal problems were examined before and after in-patient treatment. In addition groups with different levels of interpersonal problems were compared regarding anamnesis and treatment results. A total of 187 patients who were admitted as in-patients to a psychosomatic department in the course of one year were examined before and after psychotherapy which lasted on average seven weeks. The patients' interpersonal problems, as defined by the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D; HOROWITZ et al. 1994) were on average significantly less pronounced on dismissal. Whilst there were hardly any demographic or health differences between the groups with varied degrees of interpersonal problems, there were marked differences as far as the patients' social integration, the results of the Giessen-Test and the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R) were concerned. Those with more severe interpersonal problems remained longer in hospital and were more troubled by these problems on dismissal than those who had fewer interpersonal problems. A prognostic index based on the IIP-D and SCL-90-R proved unreliable in predicting the relative success of treatment.