Sammanfattning
Selection for psychotherapy may be improved by identifying predictors of non-responding to
treatment, but there are only few studies of non-responding in short-term psychodynamic group
therapy. We analyzed potential socio-demographic and clinical predictors in a sample of 239 patients
in 39 sessions of psychodynamic group psychotherapy, including self-reported symptoms,
personality, and extra-therapeutic events. Non-responding was assessed by the Symptom Check
List-90-Revised Global Severity Index (SCL-90-R GSI) according to Jacobson and Truax’s Reliable
Change Index. Non-responders represented 44.8% of the sample and these patients were still
significantly higher in symptom load at a one-year follow-up. SCL-90-R Interpersonal Sensitivity,
Compulsive personality as assessed by Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II), adverse
life events during the course of treatment (e.g. somatic illness, loss of partner or job), lack of
social support, social burden and occupation were all significantly associated with nonresponding
in the bivariate analyses. However, in the multivariate analysis only adverse life
events reached significance, and Interpersonal Sensitivity marginal significance, explaining
12.0% of variance. When only pre-treatment variables were included, Interpersonal sensitivity
and MCMI Compulsive personality predicted non-responding. Adverse life events may indicate
a need for re-evaluation of the treatment plan. Exclusion of these patients (17.6%) revealed lack
of social support, low MCMI Passive–Aggressive personality scores, and presence of SCL-90-R
Somatization symptoms to predict non-responding. Social support and scores on symptom and
personality disorder scales, which indicate awareness of problems related to the interpersonal
domain, may be highly relevant to explore before selection of patients to short-term timelimited
psychodynamic group therapy.