Self-ratings of pathogenic beliefs: A study based on the psychodynamic control-mastery theory

Abstract

Single-case studies by the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group have shown psychotherapy to be successful if pathogenic beliefs are disproved by the therapist. To date, however, no systematic knowledge regarding relevant thematic areas of pathogenic beliefs has been available. The authors examined whether those pathogenic beliefs judged by trained raters to be of regular occurrence also prove symptomatically relevant according to the self-ratings of patients and whether these beliefs can be classified along content-related dimensions. The authors presented 49 items, obtained from expert ratings in the context of diagnostic interviews with 35 differentially diagnosed patients and on the basis of verbal, scenic, and biographical informational levels, were presented to three samples: 74 individuals selected from the normal population, 79 patients with somatoform disorders, and 165 clients with various diagnoses receiving inpatient psychotherapy. Based on these results, the List of Pathogenic Beliefs (LPB) comprising 23 items was developed. Individuals receiving inpatient psychotherapy attained significantly higher scores than those from the normal population on the Self-Doubt, Doubt of Others, Expression of Anger, Fear of Close Relationships, and Guilt of Success subscales. Significant correlations were found between the total LPB scale and the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist (r=.70) as well as the total score of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (r=.74). Results thus demonstrate the symptomatic relevance of self-rated pathogenic beliefs. More extensive application of the LPB could help supplement previous case- study research on control–mastery theory.