Gonca Soygüt

The relationship between Interpersonal schemas and depressive symptomatology

Turkish university students (187 men and 191 women), 17-27 years old, participated in this study. They completed the Interpersonal Schema Questionnaire (C. Hill & J. Safran, 1994) and the Beck Depression Inventory (A. Beck, A. Rush, B. Shaw, & G. Emery, 1979). This study extended the research that was conducted by Hill and Safran (1994). The results of this study revealed that individuals in the high-depressive symptomatology group expected less complementary responses from significant others in friendly, dominant, and submissive situations. They expected more complementary responses from them in hostile situations. They also rated their expected responses from others as more undesirable than did individuals in the low-depressive symptomatology group. These findings seem to be congruent with cognitive and interpersonal theories of depression.

The Relationship Between Patient Pretreatment Interpersonal Schemas and Therapeutic Alliance in Short-Term Cognitive Therapy

This pilot study examined the relationship between interpersonal schemas (as measured by the Interpersonal Schema Questionnaire) and the therapeutic alliance (as measured early in treatment by a patient self-report version of the Working Alliance Inventory) in short-term cognitive therapy. Twenty-six (15 men, 11 women) patients participated in this study. Findings revealed that the complementarity of expected responses in submissive situations was positively associated with therapeutic alliance, whereas the complementarity of expected responses in dominant situations and the desirability of these responses were negatively related to therapeutic alliance.

The Relationship between Interpersonal Schemas and Personality Characteristics

The present study was designed to examine the relationship between the interpersonal schemas (as measured by the Interpersonal Schema Questionnaire) and personality characteristics (as measured by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory) within the framework of Safran’s (1990) cognitive-interpersonal approach. Ninety-two patients (40 men, 52 women) participated in this study. Their mean age was 35.09 years. The results generally demonstrated that expected responses from significant others in submissive situations were negatively correlated with histrionic personality characteristics. Expected responses from significant others in friendly situations were negatively correlated with schizotypal personality characteristics. Expected responses from significant others in friendly situations were positively correlated with antisocial personality characteristics.

Psychometric properties of the Turkish Young Compensation Inventory

UNLABELLED The purpose of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Young Compensation Inventory (YCI). Seven hundred and forty-three patients participated in the study. Principal components analysis with equamax rotation was carried out, and seven definable factor structures emerged. Internal consistency analysis revealed statistically significant correlation coefficients. As to convergent validity, correlational analysis of theoretically related variables showed statistically significant coefficients. Furthermore, the discriminant validity assessed through t-test analysis comparing clinical and non-clinical samples (n = 516) yielded statistically significant differences. In overall evaluation, the Turkish YCI was found to have acceptable levels of reliability and validity. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE The YCI is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 48 items that assess the schema compensation strategies. The Turkish YCI has acceptable levels of reliability and validity. The Turkish YCI is ready to be used in both schema therapy practice and research settings in Turkey.

A comparison of pre-dropout and temporary rupture sessions in psychotherapy

Abstract Although numerous studies have investigated the relationship between the therapeutic alliance and dropout, most have focused on the relationship between alliance quality and psychotherapy outcomes. Objective: To compare sessions with therapeutic alliance ruptures and two sessions prior to treatment dropout (pre-dropout) in terms of rupture subtypes, psychotherapists’ behavior, attitudes, and session content. Method: We implemented quantitative methods to select the sessions and qualitative methods to analyze them. We analyzed 16 temporary rupture sessions from 12 therapist–patient dyads and 16 pre-dropout sessions from 8 different therapist–patient dyads. The sessions originate from clinical psychology Master’s or Doctoral students under supervision in either cognitive behavioral or schema therapy. Pre-dropout sessions were considered unrepaired rupture sessions while rupture sessions were subsequently repaired. Results: Results revealed apparent differences and similarities between the session types in positive and negative psychotherapist behaviors, content intensity, and the type and frequency of ruptures. We explored three new rupture subtypes: attributing positive developments to other sources, indirect speech, and sarcastic hostility. Conclusions: A striking implication is that the frequency of positive and negative psychotherapist behaviors, ruptures, and session content is more likely to decrease in the pre-dropout sessions than in the temporary rupture sessions.

Risk Factors for Women’s Intimate Partner Violence Victimization: An Examination from the Perspective of the Schema Therapy Model

This study attempted to examine risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization against women in terms of the schema therapy model (STM). Seventy-nine shelter-residing female IPV victims and 78 married female IPV non-victims participated in the study. The Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form, the Young Parenting Inventory, the Young Compensation Inventory, and the Young Avoidance Inventory were used. The results revealed that being young and having low income were risk factors for IPV victimization. Paternal parenting style was also found to be a further risk factor in addition to demographic variables. Further, the endorsement of disconnection and the unrelenting standards schema domains presented further information predicting IPV victimization above and beyond demographic variables and parenting styles. Maladaptive coping styles did not reveal themselves as maintenance factors for IPV victimization when the information gathered from demographic variables, parenting styles, and schema domains is taken out. The results are discussed in terms of the STM.

Report on the Advanced Research and Training Seminars (ARTS) 2010

The 2010 Advanced Research and Training Seminars (ARTS) program is described, with a history of the ARTS program, its reorganization in 2009, and implementation in 2010. ARTS is held every two years at a major international congress, and is designed to enhance research skills, promote attendance at international congresses, and provide networking possibilities for scholars from developing countries. From over 85 applicants, 46 psychologists from 18 countries, with a median age of 34, were selected to participate in one of three ARTS seminars, held in Melbourne, Australia in the summer of 2010. Each seminar was evaluated by participants and conveners. Program details and future directions are discussed.