Premature termination in couple therapy as a part of therapeutic process. Cross case analysis

Aim of the study: The paper presents the qualitative study of premature termination in couple therapy. The aim of the research was to answer why couples drop-out from couple therapy at the early stage of treatment. Subject: To understand the complexity of this event the researchers decided to examine the phenomenon of early drop-out from three different perspectives, that is: from therapists and both spouses point of view. Methods: The therapists and couples that ended the therapy prematurely were interviewed. Among examined drop-out cases, there were selected three which fulfilled the criteria for early drop–out. Data were analyzed according to the method of cross-case analysis. Results. As a result common categories were singled out which were characteristic for those three cases of drop-out. Discussion: The distinguished categories of ‘the split of the working alliance’ and ‘the split of the therapeutic bond’ show that the conflict which the couple brought to the therapy was reflected in their experience of the therapy and the therapist. Conclusions: Premature termination in couple therapy is a part of therapeutic process

Drop-out in the systemic therapy from the family's perspective

Aim of the study: The problem of premature ending of therapy is a common phenomenon and is taken under consideration as closely related to effectiveness of therapy. The crucial aim of presented study was to investigate how members of a family interpret this phenomenon. Subject and methods: The research was based on interviews with drop-out clients who had participated in systematic couple therapy. The qualitative data was analyzed using the four stages methodology of grounded theory. The program used to code the data was Weft QDA. Results: The result pointed out, that drop-out from therapy is a procesual phenomenon and is connected with: a context of application, a kind of relationship between partners, an assessment of therapy. It was confirmed in the research group that the level of satisfaction from effects of therapy was related to premature termination. Discussion: The research indicated how consequences of drop-out can affect the family system. Conclusions: The high frequency of positive emotions and opinions occurring in drop-out context shows that drop-out phenomenon should not be considered only as a therapeutic failure

Family context of decisions on the deceased relative's organ donation : research review

Autorzy artykułu przedstawiają psychologiczne i kulturowe czynniki wpływające na rodzinę osoby zmarłej, w sytuacji rozmowy o pobraniu organów od ich krewnego. Ukazują również perspektywę personelu medycznego jako ważny element kontekstu tej rozmowy. Odnoszą się także do uregulowań prawnych i sytuacji rodzin dawców w PolsceThe authors present a critical review of perspectives on organ donation postmortem. The review contains cultural and family determinants of organ donation decisions and health-care personnel life saving issues, i.e. those who contacts with donor families directly as well. The important part of this article is also the feeling of loss of the patient during the operation and the medical staff opinions on transplantation. The way of talking with families about donation after death of their relatives and the personnel’s attitudes present during contact are very significant factors in the decision process. Research on the meaning of mourning seems to be fundamental in understanding how difficult it is to make a decision too

Does the family "need" depression? : a pilot study of family consultations

Aim. The aim of the presented study was to analyse associations between drug-resistant depression and the way the illness is described by patients and members of their families. In particular, a hypothesis to be verified was that being ill may be a factor stabilising the family system, and consequently treatment of this kind of depression may encounter additional difficulties and enforce “drug-resistance” by “sustaining depression” by the family. Methods. The study included 20 patients and their families. The consultations that were conducted with each of the families constituted data for the presented research. Initial results indicate an explicit association between the way the patient and his or her family define circumstances of the illness and treatment and the type of interactions between them that are manifested verbally and nonverbally. Results. Results of qualitative analysis indicate that if a patient during consultation reflects on how to describe his or her situation and precipitating factors of the illness, it usually takes place in opposition to other members of the family of origin. On the other hand, if a patient manifests depressive symptoms, he or she assumes a dependent role, while the rest of the family express an attitude of warmth towards him or her. Conclusions. Drug resistance depression should be considered, also with the context of the patient’s family