Predicting improvement of work ability in modalities of short‐ and long‐term psychotherapy: The differential impact of reflective ability and other aspects of patient suitability

• Published in: Journal of clinical psychology 2021-09, Vol.77 (9), p.1905-1920
• Main Authors: Alanne, Carita, Heinonen, Erkki, Knekt, Paul, Rissanen, Julius, Virtala, Esa, Lindfors, Olavi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: long‐term psychotherapy; Psychiatrists; Psychotherapy; reflective ability; short‐term psychotherapy; suitability for psychotherapy; work ability
• ISSN: 0021-9762; 1097-4679
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23128

Objectives We investigated how patients' psychological capacities to engage in psychotherapy predict changes in work ability in short‐ and long‐term psychotherapy. Methods A cohort study of 326 patients, aged 20–46 years and suffering from mood and anxiety disorders, treated by short‐term solution‐focused, short‐term psychodynamic, or long‐term psychodynamic psychotherapy, followed‐up for 5 years. The Suitability for Psychotherapy Scale, assessed at baseline, was the predictor. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at six follow‐up occasions using the Work Ability Index as the primary indicator. Results Patients with good pretreatment psychological suitability for psychotherapy, good reflective ability in particular, improved more than patients with poor suitability in short‐term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Comparisons between therapy groups showed poorer suitability to predict more improvement in solution‐focused and in long‐term psychodynamic psychotherapy than in short‐term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Conclusion Patients' psychological suitability for psychotherapy has a different impact on work ability in different therapy modalities and durations.