The accuracy of therapists' interpretations and the outcome of dynamic psychotherapy.

This study developed a measure of the accuracy of therapists' interpretations based on the core contliclual relationship theme method and examined the relation of accuracy to the outcome of dynamic psychotherapy. Accuracy was assessed on therapists' interpretations from two early-intreatment sessions of 43 patients receiving moderate-length dynamic therapy. The results indicated that accuracy about the main wishes and responses from others that were expressed in the relationship themes was significantly related to outcome, even after the effects of general errors in treatment techniques and the quality of the helping alliance had been controlled for. Our hypothesis that accurate interpretations would have their greatest impact in the context of a positive helping alliance was not confirmed.