Examining the relationship between object relations and interpersonal distress in a clinical sample.

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to explore the relationship between patients' object relational functioning (Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale-Global Ratings) as rated by clinicians during the course of outpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy in a university-based clinic and patient self-reported interpersonal vulnerabilities (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-64). Participants (n = 112) were outpatients entering treatment at a university-based psychotherapy clinic and were diagnosed primarily with mood disorders as well as Axis II relational problems and features. Participants completed the IIP-64 prior to receiving therapy, and SCORS-G ratings were based on patients' level of relational functioning during the evaluation process (i.e., the semistructured interview, follow-up and feedback) and across the first two psychotherapy sessions. Results showed a significant relationship between the IIP-64 Total score with SCORS-GSelf-Esteem (r = -.21, p < .05) and Affective Quality of Representations (r = -.20, p < .05), wherein self-reported interpersonal dysfunction was greater among patients who had lower self-worth and perceived others as more malevolent. These findings suggest that patients who rated themselves as having more significant interpersonal difficulty reported more negative expectations and experiences of relationships in their psychotherapy narratives. The utility of the SCORS-G and the IIP-64 as two different avenues of assessing patient relational functioning is explored.