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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.

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