According to interpersonal theory of personality, interpersonal behaviours can be causal and maintaining factors in emotional disorders. However, interpersonal styles have not yet been investigated in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of the study was to investigate interpersonal style in OCD. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems – Circumplex was used to assess the interpersonal styles of 101 outpatients with OCD treated with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Patients with OCD had more interpersonal problems than the healthy control group. However, the OCD group presented with slightly fewer interpersonal problems than a further comparison group of psychiatric outpatients. Interpersonal style did not predict improvement in OCD symptoms. Following CBT for OCD, there were small to moderate improvements in interpersonal problems. These changes remained stable at 12-month follow-up. Although the OCD group reported reduced interpersonal problems post-treatment, the group still experienced more submissiveness compared to healthy controls. Interpersonal problems in OCD appeared to be more attributable to comorbid conditions than to OCD-specific symptoms. Although patients with OCD were found to have interpersonal styles that might cause some problems, these were minimal at baseline and did not significantly affect OCD treatment outcomes. Interpersonal problems in this population might be more strongly related to depressive symptoms than to OCD-specific symptoms. CBT was associated with slight improvements in interpersonal problems.

In the present study, the interpersonal problem solving competency of nondepressed and depressed elderly were compared. The subject sample which consisted of 40 French speaking elderly were administered the Beck Depression Inventory and two subtests from the Means Ends Problem Solving Procedure. The results failed to reveal any marked differences between nondepressed and depressed elderly on the measures of Optional Thinking and Perception of Consequences. However, significant correlations were found between the interperpersonal problem solving competency measures and some of the demographic variables. Implications for future assessment of interpersonal problem solving competency in the elderly are discussed.

Despite a marked expansion in the methods and applications of cognitive therapy, few specific models exist that delineate the process and means of psychotherapeutic change within cognitive therapy. In the present model, three core conceptual components of change are suggested: interpersonal conscious appraisal, response procedures and therapeutic communication. The subsequent circumplex developed from the core components enables the classification and description of 16 identifiable assessment profiles. Specific hypotheses drawn from the cognitive circumplex are stated concerning levels of functioning, client/problem complexity and typical client interactions. The circumplex is offered as a means of assessing, tracking and evaluating change during cognitive therapy. The structure of the model is consistent with the goals, rationale and expectations of cognitive therapy.