SIST-R Study: Empirical Examination of the Relationship Between the Concepts: Resistance and Alliance Ruptures

funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, Project Number 445514280)

Principal Investigator IPU

Prof. Dorothea Huber

Principal Investigator (external)

Dr. Inka Montan (Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg)

Project Description

The SIST-R study is part of the interdisciplinary research project “Linguistic Manifestations of Resistance in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (RESIST)”, which investigates the central psychodynamic concept of patient resistance in psychotherapy sessions and its relevance for the therapeutic process. RESIST is a DFG funded research project conducted by principal investigators Inka Montan at Heidelberg University Hospital and Arnulf Deppermann at  Leibniz Institute for the German Language (IDS), Mannheim. To assess resistance qualities and intensities in the therapeutic process of psychodynamic therapies, the “RESIST Rating Scale” (Montan et al., in preparation) was developed as part of the RESIST study. The aim of the SIST-R Study is to examine the relationship between the concepts of resistance and alliance ruptures in the therapeutic relationship. Alliance ruptures are characterized by deteriorations in the therapeutic alliance, which are manifested by a disagreement between the patient and therapist on treatment goals, a lack of collaboration on therapeutic tasks, or a strain in their emotional bond. For example, ruptures can manifest as withdrawal from therapeutic work through avoidant behaviour. The “Rupture Resolution Rating System” (3RS v2022, Eubanks & Muran, 2022) is an observer-based measure used to assess alliance ruptures in psychotherapy sessions. In the SIST-R Study, both the RESIST Rating Scale and the 3RS v2022 are applied to video-recorded psychodynamic therapy sessions to assess resistance phenomena and alliance ruptures and examine the relationship between these phenomena. 

Original Language: German, English

Participating Researchers

Jenny Lou Eis (IPU Berlin)
Levin Laser (IPU Berlin)

University Clinic Heidelberg:
Prof Christoph Nikendei
Ivo Rollmann
Pierre Schleicher
Maximilian Orth 

 

Duration

Projekt Start: 05/2024
Projekt End: 12/2026