CHANGES IN THE SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS IN THE COURSE OF THE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY

This article presents results from a qualitative research based on a semi-structured interview method. The interviewees were 12 Polish psychotherapists. The interviewed psychotherapists think that a temporary increase of psychopathological symptoms experienced by the patient during the psychotherapy process is a very universal phenomenon. When one succeeds in its working-thorough, it should have a positive effect on the psychotherapy effectiveness, while symptoms' plateau can be seen as a sign of stagnation in the psychotherapy process and may have a negative influence on psychotherapy outcome.