Cognitive change before, during, and after short-term dynamic and nondirective psychotherapies: A preliminary growth modeling study

As part of a randomized clinical trial, in this preliminary study we investigated the shape, rate, and determinants of change in surface cognitions before, during, and after short-term anxiety-provoking psychotherapy (n = 11) and nondirective psychotherapy (n = 10). Cognitions were assessed repeatedly with the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (S. D. Hollon & P. C. Kendall, 1980), and data were analyzed using growth-modeling procedures. Both treatments were 20 sessions long, manualized, and conducted by experienced therapists receiving manual-guided supervision. Results showed that patients in both conditions changed significantly after pretherapy evaluation and diagnostic interviews as well as during the 2nd half of therapy. Patients with major depression did not change after the pretherapy interviews, whereas anxiety patients changed substantially and significantly faster than the depressed patients. This differential response pattern is discussed in light of self-schema theory. Lessons to be learned from this study regarding the design of future studies are highlighted.