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The current article focuses on client’s perspectives of the mechanisms of change in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), a brief psychodynamic therapy developed for the treatment of depression. Five participants were interviewed and the transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results point out four subthemes, capturing different active ingredients of DIT: therapy shedding light on previously sealed aspects of self; the relational exchange with the therapist challenging intimate fears; moving towards an interpersonal understanding of their difficulties; and putting the pieces of their lives together into a coherent narrative. Overall participants described an interplay between relational and insight-oriented mechanisms taking place. As part of the former mechanisms, participants reported the development of a secure attachment to their therapist and the provision of a new relational experience, partly via mechanisms corresponding to the concept of transference. Participants reported an increase in insight to have been achieved via an understanding of an interpersonal and emotional pattern as well as via the restoration of a coherent life-story. Processes that theoretically map onto the concept of mentalisation were also reported. The findings are discussed in relation to the DIT and psychodynamic theory about change and to relevant research literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) is a brief manualised psychodynamic intervention for depression. This is a first study exploring clients' experiences of DIT specifically and brief, manualised psychodynamic psychotherapy (PP) in general. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was the methodology employed. Five participants completed a semi-structured interview, three weeks to ten months after completing DIT. The scores of pre- and post-therapy outcome measures of depression and anxiety were also available. Two emerging superordinate themes are presented here: (1) 'The Distinct Features of DIT', referring to how its therapeutic style and time limitations were experienced and (2) the 'Impact of Therapy', referring to perceived outcomes. While previous findings showed that therapist's perceived limited activity in long-term PP was experienced as hindering/unhelpful, the perceived sense of direction in DIT appeared adequate to most participants. Secondly, the time limitations provoked complex responses. Reactions to the distinct elements of DIT are to be treated both as therapeutic opportunities and as challenges. Further, in line with psychoanalytic theory, most participants described relational changes that went beyond symptom relief and remained in progress after therapy ended. Intriguingly, there was no consistency between participants' qualitative accounts of change and the scores of the outcome measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]