Project Portugal 2030

Summary

The main aim of PROMISED is to investigate the role of interpersonal synchrony as a key mechanism of change in psychotherapy, focusing on the patterns of multimodal synchrony that are related to good therapeutic alliance and good outcomes, and use this knowledge to inform clinical practice. The specific objectives of this project are: O1. To produce scientific knowledge on the relationship between interpersonal synchrony and therapeutic alliance and therapy outcomes. This macroscopic level of analysis will allow us to see whether the levels of synchrony can be a predictor of alliance and outcome at the session level. O2. To do a microscopic analysis to describe the synchrony dynamics that characterize key moments of the therapeutic process. Here we aim to identify the patterns of multimodal interpersonal synchrony that are related to the emergence of rupture events and their successful resolution. Specifically, our goal is to identify the synchrony patterns that precede the rupture events and those that follow them and to determine whether these patterns allow us to differentiate resolved from non-resolved ruptures. O3. To advance scientific knowledge in this field by measuring multi-modal synchrony (Movement, electrodermal, heart rate), and looking at the interaction between the different synchrony modalities. This will allow us to compare the different communication channels through which the synchronization takes place and come up with aggregated measures of synchrony by integrating different data. We will also contribute to standardizing procedures in combining multimodal (e.g., find appropriate means to analyze information with different time scales (EDA, HRV). Based on the knowledge generated from the previous objectives, PROMISED will pursue the following goals of clinical applications that will be relevant to mental health care to guide therapeutic practices: O4. PROMISED will render a large psychotherapy dataset composed of different psychophysiological measures (Movement, EDA, cardiac) from both therapist and patient acquired throughout the therapy process of approximately 16 sessions in a sample of 30 depressive patients. This large dataset of 480 sessions will allow the development of tools to predict the response to treatment, namely monitoring and sensorization tools that provide immediate feedback to the therapist. O5. To use the knowledge produced by the results of the studies to develop a training program that will be offered to clinicians. This course will focus on the improvement of therapeutic skills necessary for adequate synchronization processes within the context of therapeutic alliance management, specifically the resolution of alliance ruptures. The program will have a duration of 3 months and will include 12 weekly sessions. To the best of our knowledge PROMISED will be the first attempt to cross the analysis of interpersonal synchrony and alliance ruptures, which are two pivotal constructs in psychotherapy research. PROMISE will thus enhance our understanding of therapeutic processes and their outcomes. On the other hand, it will work on the direct application of this knowledge to clinical decision-making