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Adolescent insight within the working alliance: A bridge between diagnostic and psychotherapeutic processes

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Authors: Michela Gatta, Andrea Spoto, Paolo Testa, et al

Published Date July 2010 Volume 2010:1 Pages 45 - 52
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/AHMT.S9323

Michela Gatta1, Andrea Spoto2, Paolo Testa3, Lorenza Svanellini3, Jessica Lai3, Maurizio Salis3, Maxim De Sauma4, Pier Antonio Battistella3

1Department of Paediatrics, 2Department of General Psychology, 3Neuropsychiatric Unit for Children and Adolescents, Azienda ULSS 16, Padua, Italy; 4Brent Centre For Young People, London, UK

Abstract: In the literature it has been stressed how important it is during consultation interviews to evaluate an adolescent’s insight with a view to starting psychotherapeutic work. Motivated adolescents bring to the therapeutic effort a real, interiorized request for help and can start moving towards a change. The aim of this study is to assess the insight of adolescents with mental disorders during the diagnostic process and to analyze how this relates to further therapeutic compliance and clinical evolution. The study included 55 adolescents, 35 males and 20 females aged between 11 and 19 years, who were advised to receive psychotherapeutic treatment after a diagnostic procedure. Patient insight was assessed at the beginning and end of the diagnostic process. Then, six months later, a clinical interview assessed their therapeutic compliance and clinical evolution. The findings suggest that insight is important when working with adolescents because it influences both therapeutic compliance and clinical outcome.

Keywords: adolescence, insight, therapeutic alliance, therapeutic compliance, outcome




 

Other articles by Dr Michela Gatta

Psychological and behavioral disease during developmental age: the importance of the alliance with parents
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