The process-outcome studies present ambiguous results concerning the fluctuations of psychopathological symptoms during psychotherapy. We also know that self-concept clarity is connected with the level of psychological functioning (Campbell et al, 1996), but no research is available exploring the dynamics of this variable in psychotherapy.

The study was designed to find if the intensity of fluctuation of the self-concept clarity and symptoms of neurosis during psychotherapy was connected with positive outcome.

All participants were in a program of 8–12 week intensive eclectic group psychotherapy. 85 patients with a diagnosis of neurosis and/or personality disorders filled in questionnaires measuring the self-concept clarity and symptoms of neurosis every 2 weeks. Additionally the features of neurotic personality were measured. The root mean square error (RMSE) of log-linear regression for each participant is the indicator of fluctuations.

There is a positive correlation between the fluctuation of the self-concept clarity during psychotherapy and the symptom reduction at the end of the therapy for all patients (r = 0,24). Among the subgroup of patients with high initial self-concept clarity and high intensity of neurotic personality features this correlation was notably high (r = 0,53). No statistically significant correlations were found concerning the fluctuation of neurosis symptoms.

Fluctuations of the self-concept clarity during psychotherapy are thought to be beneficial for patients with neurosis and personality disorders - particularly for those integrated around their disturbed personality. This observation is discussed in the perspective of the integrated dynamic systems model of change in psychotherapy (Hayes, Strauss, 1998).