A supportive approach in psychodynamic–oriented psychotherapy. An empirically supported single case study

This paper evaluates process and outcome in a 2 years supportive psychotherapy psychodynamic-oriented of a young adult self-referred for concerns about University choice. The diagnosis was Panic Attack Disorder (DSM-IV) with features of obsessive–compulsive and narcissistic personality disorder (PDM). Twenty-eight verbatim transcripts of the sessions were coded with the Psychodynamic Intervention Rating Scales, the Collaborative Interactions Scale and Defense Mechanism Rating Scale. A log linear analysis model showed the trends of process variables during the treatment. A hierarchical regression analysis evaluated the importance of tailoring the clinician interventions in respect to the average level of defenses. Outcome results showed how patient’s diagnosis changed and symptoms decreased.