Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy Research Articles

Brief transactional analysis psychotherapy for depression: The systematic development of a treatment manual.

Brief transactional analysis psychotherapy for depression: The systematic development of a treatment manual.

Time for a Change? A Review of Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy Training and Examinations With Consideration to Adopting a More Inclusive and Nondiscriminatory Approach

This essay reviews current training, examination, and assessment structures and processes in transactional analysis (TA) following on from the research article by Baker and Widdowson, which concluded that more research and a deeper understanding of neurodiversity is necessary in order to consider appropriate support for trainees and qualified practitioners in TA. Additional evidence drawn from live research at the 2021 online United Kingdom Association for Transactional Analysis (UKATA) Conference is considered by the author alongside the experience of her supervisees and colleagues as well as her own experience as a Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (PTSTA), written examination coordinator, and written and oral examination evaluator.

Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy with Clients who are Neurodivergent: Experiences and Practice Recommendations

This qualitative research study uses Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) (Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009; Smith & Nizza, 2022) to explore how Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy can be used effectively with clients who are neurodivergent. It aimed to explore the lived experiences of participants, all of whom were neurodivergent and received psychotherapy as adults but who were undiagnosed in childhood. Participants all reported a sense of frustration, sadness, and shame regarding how others have responded to their neurodivergence and neurodivergent behaviours historically. This study aimed to look beyond the outward presenting behaviours to the underlying need and consider what neurodivergent clients may need, both from their psychotherapist and from their psychotherapy. This study suggests four main psychotherapeutic needs, identifies three main traps that psychotherapists may fall into when working with neurodivergent clients, and describes eight relational affirmations which are important to consider when working with neurodivergent clients.

The Efficacy of Transactional Analysis as a Community-Based Intervention for Substance Use Disorder

This study examines the effectiveness of transactional analysis (TA) as a recovery support for substance users with mild to moderate substance use disorders (SUD). A modified version of a 12-session TA program was implemented for 3 months. There were 25 participants who took part during the sessions. The findings revealed a significant treatment impact in reducing psychological distress and drug craving across all sub-elements, including intensity of craving, frequency of craving, duration of craving, and number of times of craving (p < .05). Over the course of the sessions, the frequency of lapses decreased. The findings indicate that TA is helpful in the recovery of those with SUD, especially by strengthening the Adult ego state and changing the stroking pattern and life position of individuals. Further research directions might include a follow-up study after the program, more attention to stress management, and the role of the Parent ego state. One implication of this study might be that providing a framework for a TA psychotherapy in the treatment interventions for individuals with SUD is useful.

The Effectiveness of Transactional Analysis Treatments and Their Predictors: A Systematic Literature Review and Explorative Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Despite many studies on transactional analysis (TA) psychotherapy, there are no comprehensive reviews or meta-analyses on its effectiveness. We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on TA psychotherapeutic treatments to examine the extent of psychological and psychosocial change in pre-post studies, the effects compared with other treatments in randomized clinical trials, and factors explaining these effects and differences. Method: We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis according to Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiolog (MOOSE) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in Pubmed, Medline, PsycInfo, Web-of-Knowledge, and scholar.google.com . Results: Overall, 41 clinical trials of TA treatments had moderate to large effects on psychopathology (Hedges’s g = .66), social functioning ( g = .62), self-efficacy ( g = .80), ego-state functioning ( g = .69), well-being ( g = .33), and behavior ( g = .56). Compared with control conditions, TA had moderate to large effects on psychopathology ( g = .61), social functioning ( g = .69), self-efficacy ( g = .88), ego-states ( g = .70), well-being ( g = .85), and behavior ( g = .46). TA was more effective on most outcomes in individuals, groups, and families than in schools or prisons. Psychopathology changes were significantly predicted by improvements in ego-states, self-efficacy, social functioning, and client–practitioner relationship ( r² range = .27–.43). Treatments were more effective if they included systematic assessment, treatment stages, psycho-education, TA-unique techniques, and an experiential focus ( r² range = .03–.31). Conclusions: TA may be considered an effective treatment for many clients.

The Use of Interpretive Dynamic Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (IDTAP) in Facilitating Structural Integration When Working With Reenactments of Developmental Trauma in the Psychotherapeutic Setting

The author considers how through reenactments, early developmental trauma and potential impairments in personality functioning may manifest in the psychotherapeutic relationship and how such reenactments may be underpinned by the individual’s need to control the intrapsychic dynamics through the use and control of interpersonal relationships. Some of the common transference manifestations are considered along with how they present fertile ground for resolution of the underlying internal conflicts. The article addresses this mainly through the theory and clinical examples from clients presenting with some level of personality impairment. In terms of psychotherapeutic technique, the author falls back on what he refers to as interpretive dynamic transactional analysis psychotherapy (IDTAP). There is a particular focus on reenactments of the destructive internal parts embedded in the client’s attachment to the internal bad object. The dangers of the therapist’s intention to provide the reparative relational experience are addressed along with the importance of analysis and resolution of the idealizing transference. The importance of the therapist’s function to endure and contain the negative countertransference is also discussed. Some potential interventions aimed at improving personality functioning are considered as are the implications of working with extratransference.

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice: Using Creative Methods to Research Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy

Research using creative methods is opening up new ways to deepen our understanding of human experience and offer possibilities to all fields of transactional analysis (TA). This paper shows how creative methods can enrich both transactional analysis research and practice, particularly with reference to unconscious processes and silence. The author provides a brief overview of two types of creative method followed by some of the results obtained from using them in a TA research project. A case vignette is used to illustrate how one of these methods was applied in practice in the hope of showing how creative methods can be useful tools for offering transactional analysis a possible bridge into what Christopher Bollas described as “the unthought known.”

Treating perinatal mental illness with transactional analysis psychotherapy—A narrative enquiry

AbstractObjectivesThis research examines transactional analysis (TA) psychotherapy as a treatment option for perinatal mental illness, using a qualitative, narrative methodology to listen to the experiences of women who have received it within a private psychotherapeutic setting. Perinatal mental illness has wide‐reaching consequences and is a leading cause of maternal mortality. This research aimed to explore women's experiences of perinatal mental illness; and their experiences of TA psychotherapy treatment to explore its acceptability to female clients.MethodA qualitative, narrative approach was used to facilitate an exploration of women's experiences. Data collection was by free association narrative interviewing (FANI) and a creative methodology, forming a deep, rich understanding of personal perspective, using the visual and the narrative as a co‐creative construction. Data analysis used the listening guide method (LGM) to highlight difference, hear multiple voices in one person's narrative and take notice of temporal movement within the narrative.FindingsThe participants found TA psychotherapy to be useful in different formats: couple's, one‐to‐one or group therapy. TA addressed the specificity of illness and was enduring (long‐lasting); the relational dyad was found to be a factor in positive treatment outcomes; TA terms shared with the clients held significance in therapy and within the interview, offering a ‘shared’ language that was easily understood and clarified the treatment process.ConclusionFemale clients in this study (the participants) found TA psychotherapy useful as a treatment for perinatal mental illness.

What If My “I’m OK, You’re OK” Is Different From Yours? Could the Inherent Optimism in Transactional Analysis Be a Form of Compulsory Ableism?

The author challenges what she considers to be the potential oversimplification of the human condition in the way transactional analysis (TA) is sometimes taught. Referring to Steiner’s idea of egalitarian empowerment available to all and taking inspiration from Robert McCruer’s crip theory, she asks readers to question if the inherent optimism in TA is a version of compulsory ableism. She offers vignettes of reported experiences as well as some of her own in TA training and psychotherapy whereby clients and trainees felt marginalized for being differently abled. Using the title of Joyce McDougall’s book, the author makes her own “plea for a measure of abnormality” and questions the application of some theoretical models (such as symbiosis) in their apparent pathologizing of those who have a vital need for others in order to provide a complementary function.

Psychotherapy in the time of COVID‐19 (psychotherapy changes shape and steps forward)

In this article, I articulate the challenges and reshaping that the global pandemic has brought to the practice and ethics of a relational transactional analysis psychotherapy. I describe the interweave of political, social and psychosocial contexts which have led to life‐threatening emergencies within a society in which inequalities are endemic; and link the impact of these contexts to a relational transactional analysis practice using, as a compass, features of classical transactional analysis, radical psychiatry and feminist thought. I outline an approach to the work which accounts for the life‐changing impact of the pandemic, which I call ‘the COVID Third’. Speaking from the experience of COVID‐19 in the United Kingdom, I imagine, other countries will have experienced different political situations but have associated emotional personal responses which are brought to psychotherapy.

KEYNOTE: Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy Research: Three Methods describing a TA Group Therapy

The overall aim of the thesis was to enhance and revive the practical understanding of the active ingredients in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (TA) and to define and lay down elements of TA that make it a distinct and replicable method of treatment. The thesis includes three empirical studies of a videotaped one-year long TA Group Therapy with 10 clients. Three different key areas of Transactional Analysis have been investigated with support of three different approaches. The first study (Johnsson, 2011 a) was a diagnostic client assessment with TA Script Analysis made as a reliability study. The second study (Johnsson, 2011 b) dealt with identification of different components in TA psychotherapy method with the use of Discourse Analysis and the third study (Johnsson &amp; Stenlund, 2010) investigated the Therapeutic Alliance with a psychodynamic approach, using the CCRT method (the CORE Conflictual Relationship method) by Luborsky &amp; Crits-Christoph (1990, 1998) and the Plan – Diagnosis method by Weiss &amp; Sampson (1986). Study I: A script questionnaire and associated checklist developed by Ohlsson, Johnsson &amp; Björk (1992) was used by the author and two professional colleagues to independently assess ten clients of a year-long transactional analysis therapy group conducted by the author. Ratings based on written responses at start of therapy were compared to ratings based on videotape interviews conducted by the author six years after termination of therapy. Moderately high inter-assessor reliability was found but intra-assessor reliability was low for the independent assessors; agreement increased for script components ‘primary injunction from father,’ ‘racket feeling’, ‘escape hatch’, ‘driver from father’ and ‘driver from mother’. Study II: Operational definitions of categorisations by McNeel (1975) were developed and applied by the author and an independent assessor to complete discourse analysis of 72 hours of transactional analysis group therapy in the style of Goulding &amp; Goulding (1976, 1979) conducted during 1984/85. Results showed that the therapist used an average of 42% of the discourse space and that the therapy did indeed contain TA components, with the two main categories being ‘Feeling Contact’ and ‘Contracts’, and with particular use of TA techniques of ‘talking to Parent projections’, ‘make feeling statement’, ‘mutual negotiation’ and ‘specificity/clarity’. Inter-rater reliability was 46.2% (Araujo &amp; Born 1985), Cohen’s (1960) kappa coefficient shows a spread from slight to moderate agreement, and the Odds Ratio (Viera, 2008) is above 1.0 for most categories. One intervention, "mutual negotiation", with moderate reliability could be identified as “TA typical". Study III: The study describes an investigation of the significance of the affective dimension of the therapeutic alliance (Bordin 1979), in a psychodynamic form of transactional analysis therapy after the style of “Redecision therapy” (Goulding &amp; Goulding, 1979). We explored the client’s pattern of affective relationships by use of CCRT by Luborsky &amp; Crits-Christoph (1990, 1998) and examined how the therapist responds to the client’s affective messages (“tests”) by use of the Plan-Diagnosis method (Weiss &amp; Sampson, 1986). We found that “emotional” aspects play a more decisive role than has been envisioned in the TA redecision method and similar approaches of TA psychotherapy that emphasise contracts, tasks of therapy and a rational approach.

TA Treatment of Depression: A Simplified Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design - The Case of “Margherita”

This study is the seventh of a series of seven and belongs to the second Italian systematic replication of findings from previous series that investigatedthe effectiveness of a manualized transactional analysistreatment for depressionthrough Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design. We address problems and difficulties emerged in previous case series, such as: spending time in training a group of people to conduct the hermeneutic analysis, organizing the involvement of external judges to give the final adjudication, and dealing with inconsistencies between quantitative and qualitative data. For these reasons, this study suggests a simplified method to conduct the hermeneutic analysis that require one person only, maintaining its validity. Therefore, we integrated hermeneutic design with the pragmatic case evaluation methodology in order to follow pre-defined criteria in analysing qualitative material. Furthermore, we present a way to use the Script System to detect changes in depressive symptomatology and depressive personality. We tested this approach to HSCED in the case of ‘Margherita’, a 56-years old white Italian woman who attended sixteen session of transactional analysis psychotherapy with a white Italian woman therapist with 5 years of clinical experience. The patient satisfied DSM-5 criteria for moderately severe major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and SWAP 200 criteria for traits of depressive, dependent, avoidant and hostile personality typeswith a high level of functioning.

TA Treatment of Depression: A Simplified Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design - The Case of “Giovanni”

This study is inspired by previous case series replications of Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design which aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a manualized transactional analysis treatment for depressive disorders and depressive personality. We address problems and difficulties emerged in previous case series, such as: spending time in training a group of people to conduct the hermeneutic analysis, organizing the involvement of external judges to give the final adjudication, and dealing with inconsistencies between quantitative and qualitative data. For these reasons, this study suggests a simplified method to conduct the hermeneutic analysis that require one person only, maintaining its validity. Therefore, we integrated hermeneutic design with the pragmatic case evaluation methodology in order to follow pre-defined criteria in analysing qualitative material. Furthermore, we present a way to use the Script System to detect changes in depressive symptomatology and depressive personality. We tested this approach to HSCED in the case of ‘Giovanni, a 17-years old white Italian boy who attended sixteen session of transactional analysis psychotherapy with a white Italian woman specializing in psychotherapy with 2 years of clinical experience. The patient satisfied DSM-5 criteria for moderate major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.This is the second investigation which has evaluated the effectiveness of Transactional Analysis psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.&#x0D;

Intensive Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (ITAP): A case series study

AbstractIntensive Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (ITAP) is a new therapeutic approach based on the integration of Transactional Analysis and brief psychodynamic approaches. ITAP is based on two key therapeutic tools—the intrapsychic triangle and the interpersonal triangle—which the therapist uses to focus patients’ attention on moment‐by‐moment therapy processes. The aim of the present study was to provide early empirical documentation of ITAP effectiveness. To this aim, six patients (four females, two males) were longitudinally evaluated using an A‐B‐A mixed quantitative and qualitative design, with evaluations at Baseline, Treatment and Follow‐up phases. Each patient received 16 50‐min weekly sessions of ITAP therapy over 4 months. For quantitative evaluations, patients filled out the Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation‐Outcome Measure (CORE‐OM) at each evaluation. Effects size values were estimated to evaluate quantitative changes comparing mean scores of Baseline, Treatment and Follow‐up phases. At the first follow‐up, the Change Interview was used to qualitatively evaluate patients’ perceived changes. In the quantitative data, four of the six patients reported a very good outcome, with large to very large effect sizes in Baseline versus Treatment and/or Baseline versus Follow‐up scores comparisons, whereas two patients reported variable fluctuations within the non‐clinical range of outcome scores. In the qualitative evaluations, all patients reported several moderately to extremely important perceived changes attributed to psychotherapy.

Religion, Faith, Spirituality, and the Beyond in Transactional Analysis

This article discusses religion, faith, and spirituality (RFS) and transactional analysis (TA) psychotherapy and counseling as well as what may be called the beyond. It reviews the literature on RFS within TA in terms of the basic assumptions and principles of TA as well as its four main areas of theory (transactions, ego states, scripts, and games) and categorizes the interplay between TA and RFS. Taking issue with the argument that RFS is and/or should be separate from psychology, the article offers an inclusive view of RFS within TA and TA within RFS and briefly discusses the implication of this for practice, including the personal development, supervision, and education and training of psychotherapists and other TA practitioners.

TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - 'Giorgio'

This study is the fourth of a series of seven and belongs to the second Italian systematic replication of findings from previous series that investigated the effectiveness of a manualized transactional analysis treatment for depression through Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design. The therapist was a white Italian man with 17 years of clinical experience and the patient, Giorgio, was a 23-year-old white Italian man who attended sixteen sessions of transactional analysis psychotherapy. Giorgio satisfied DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder,Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia and Dependent Personality Disorder. The treatment focused on both symptoms remission and conflicts at the core of dependent personality. The judges evaluated the case as a good outcome, mediated by the work on core conflicts of personality, that enhanced the treatment outcome and the remission of depressive symptoms. This case study suggests that the classical treatment for depression may be enhanced by considering the conflicts at the base of personality traits or disorders. Citation - APA format: Benelli, E., Procacci, M., Fornaro, A., Calvo, V., Mannarini, S., Palmieri, A. and Zanchetta, M. (2018). TA Treatment of Depression:A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - Giorgio. International Journal of Transactional Analysis Research &amp; Practice, 9(2), 3-22 https://doi.org/10.29044/v9i2p3

TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - 'Sergio'

This study is the fifth of a series of seven and belongs to the second Italian systematic replication of findings from previous series that investigatedthe effectiveness of a manualized Transactional Analysistreatment for depression through Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design.The therapist was a white Italian woman with 5years of clinical experience and the patient, Sergio, was a 39-year old white Italian man who attended sixteen sessions of transactional analysis psychotherapy. Sergio satisfied DSM 5 criteria for Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) with melancholic features, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Obsessive Personality traits. The treatment focused on the permission to enjoy and on self-protection. The focus on both depressive symptoms and obsessive traits allowed a remission of his dysthymia within the end of therapy. The judges evaluated the case as a good outcome: the depressive and anxious symptomatology clinically and reliably improved over the course of the therapy and these improvements weremaintained at the followups. Furthermore, the patient reported significant change in his post-treatment interview and these changes were directly attributed to the therapy. Citation - APA format: Benelli, E., Gentilesca, G., Boschetti, D., Piccirillo, C., Calvo, V., Mannarini, S., Palmieri, A. and Zanchetta, M. (2018). TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - Sergio. International Journal of Transactional Analysis Research &amp; Practice, 9(2), 23-41 https://doi.org/10.29044/v9i2p23

TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - 'Beatrice'

This study is the sixth of a series of seven and belongs to the second Italian systematic replication of findings from previous series that investigatedthe effectiveness of a manualized transactional analysistreatment for depressionthrough Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design.The therapist was a white Italian woman with 10 years of clinical experience and the patient, Beatrice, was a 45-year old white Italian woman who attended sixteen sessions of transactional analysis psychotherapy. Beatrice satisfied DSM 5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, Anxious Distress, with Dependent and Histrionic Personality Traits. The judges evaluated the case as a good outcome: the depressive and anxious symptomatology clinically and reliably improved over the course of the therapy and these improvements weremaintained throughoutthe duration of thefollowup intervals. Furthermore, the patient reported significant change in her post-treatment interview and these changes were directly attributed to the therapy.&#x0D; Citation - APA format:&#x0D; Benelli, E., Vulpiani, F., Cavallero, G., Calvo, V., Mannarini, S., Palmieri, A. and Zanchetta, M. (2018). TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - Beatrice. International Journal of Transactional Analysis Research &amp; Practice, 9(2), 42-63 https://doi.org/10.29044/v9i2p42

Intensive Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (ITAP): A Single-Case Time Series Study

Intensive Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (ITAP) integrates Transactional Analysis and brief psychodynamic approaches for the intensification of therapist intervention based on the moment-by-moment analysis of intrapsychic and interpersonal process of the patient. We present a quantitative and qualitative, time series study to evaluate ITAP therapy effectiveness in a single case. Quantitative outcome data were collected using the Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure, in 3 baseline measures, after each session and in 3 follow-up evaluations. Qualitative data were collected using the Change Interview that allows the documentation of more relevant changes for the patients and a scoring of their relevance. Quantitative results provide evidence of ITAP effectiveness, with very large ES of self-reported change. Qualitative results are consistent with the recovery observed in self-reported measures and confirm that the perception of the patient is consistent in several points with ITAP theory.

Scientific evidence base for transactional analysis in the year 2010 Annex 2 – the Psychotherapy List: References to research on Transactional Analysis psychotherapy effects 1963-2010

The Big List and the Psychotherapy List are the primary results of this investigation into the history of researched TA articles. They are found in Annexes 1 and 2 respectively, which are included as separate documents from the main documnet (Scientific evidence base for transactional analysis in the year 2010) for ease of later reference. Both lists contain comments by the author. The comments are offered only to pass on the author’s limited knowledge of the studies, and the author makes no claims of having made full and systematic reviews of the articles in the lists.