Changes in self and object representations following psychotherapy measured by a theory-free, computational, semantic space method
Author
Summary, in English
We propose a theory-neutral, computational and data-driven method for assessing changes in semantic content of object representations following long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Young adults in psychotherapy are compared with an age-matched, non- clinical sample at three time points. Verbatim transcripts of descriptions of the self and parents were quantified in a semantic space constructed by Latent Semantic Analysis. In the psychotherapy group, all representations changed from baseline to follow-up, whereas no comparable changes could be observed in the comparison group. The semantic space method supports the hypothesis that long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy contributes to sustained change of affective-cognitive schemas of self and others.
Department/s
Publishing year
2011
Language
English
Pages
430-446
Publication/Series
Psychotherapy Research
Volume
21
Issue
4
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Topic
- Psychology
Keywords
- Object Representations
- Semantic Space
- Latent Semantic Analysis
- Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Therapy
- Long Term Psychotherapy
- Young Adults
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1468-4381