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Outcomes in couple therapy: Reduced psychiatric symptoms and improved sense of coherence

På svenska

Author

  • Ann-Marie Lundblad
  • Kjell Hansson

Summary, in English

In Sweden, only a few empirical studies of couple therapy have been performed. This is the hitherto most comprehensive assessment of clinical treatment. Effectiveness of treatment is reported and compared with non-clinical ratings. Initially the couples displayed marital distress, many psychiatric symptoms, dyadic interactions characterized by high criticism and a low sense of coherence. In Sweden, couple therapy is primarily aimed to reduce marital distress and does not focus on individual disorders. It should be seen as innovative that overall psychic symptoms (Global Symptom Index, GSI) as well as depressive symptoms were reduced (more than one standard deviation) for both women and men to the extent of 50–55%. Normal values were attained by 73–78%. Of those who initially identified a low sense of coherence, 22% of the women and 37% of the men improved (more than one standard deviation). Normal values were attained by 68–70%. The treatment was relatively short, which meant that, with relatively limited treatment, it was also possible to attain relatively significant improvements in all dimensions of psychiatric symptoms.

Publishing year

2005

Language

English

Pages

374-380

Publication/Series

Nordic Journal of Psychiatry

Volume

59

Issue

5

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Informa Healthcare

Topic

  • Psychiatry

Keywords

  • Couple therapy
  • Depression
  • Sense of coherence
  • Symptoms

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1502-4725