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Objectives: In accordance with Freud's hypothesis about the nature of primary process thinking we analysed metaphors as possible tools for the integration of unconscious affective und cognitive representational processes which, besides being complementary to affective interactive dyadic behaviour, may be of curative value., Methods: Using videotapes of 10 fifteen-hour short-term therapies by very experienced therapists treating an unselected group of patients, facial affect and metaphoric language of the therapist and the patient as well as the temporal distance between the two was recorded., Results: The density of metaphors was not significantly correlated with symptom reduction but with treatment satisfaction. However, symptom reduction correlated significantly with the frequency of interactive metaphors used by both the therapist and the patient., Conclusions: It could be shown that there is an optimal time window between facial affect and metaphor production beyond the here and now, but not as a long term memory.

Objectives: In the present study we examined the facial affective behaviour of acute adult-onset traumatized patients versus childhood-onset traumatized patients. Furthermore, we analyzed whether a decrease in emotional numbing results from a reduction of symptoms. We used amnestic tendencies as a moderator variable., Methods: The facial affective behaviour was coded with the Emotional Facial Acting Coding System, an instrument for the registration of facial movements with emotional relevance. The facial affective behaviour of the patient's first and last EMDR sessions was compared., Results: Childhood-onset and acute adult-onset traumatized patients showed the same reduction of overall facial activity. We found significantly higher psychic complaints (global severity index) (SCL-90-R) in childhood-onset traumatized patients and no difference in amnestic tendencies (FDS) between the two groups. Childhood-onset traumatized patients showed higher values of derealisation (FDS)., Conclusions: The facial affective reduction remains constant over time. Also childhood-onset traumatized patients developed more psychic complaints and greater derealisation.

Objectives: In the present study we examined facial affective behavior in acutely traumatized patients undergoing EMDR therapy. Furthermore, we analyzed whether a decrease in emotional numbing was due to a reduction of symptoms. Amnestic tendencies were used as a moderator variable., Methods: The facial affective behaviour was coded using the Emotional Facial Acting Coding System, an instrument for the registration of facial movements with emotional relevance. The facial affective behavior of the patient's first and last EMDR session was compared., Results: A significant increase in facial affective behavior as well as an increase in mental complaints were found. Furthermore, the reduction in amnestic tendencies did not result in a reduction of symptoms., Conclusions: Under the influence of the treatment it is possible to improve access to episodic affective memory. Nevertheless, a positive influence cannot be denoted at the end of the treatment.

Objectives: On the basis of characterizations of the psychodynamics of panic patients and previous findings on their affective facial behavior in first psychotherapy sessions, hypotheses are made on affective facial behavior of the therapist and its relationship to outcome satisfaction., Methods: Affective facial behaviour in 20 female patients with panic disorder and their male therapists in the first session of psychotherapy was coded with EMFACS. The data of facial behaviour was correlated with outcome ratings at the end of treatment., Results: Therapists show less affective facial behaviour than panic patients; particularly, they smile less frequently. The frequency of smiling in the first session correlated negatively with outcome ratings. Therapists adapted their interactive behaviour to the relationship offers of their patients., Conclusions: The results are discussed on the background of the psychodynamics of panic disorders. Considering the different relationship offers, the results indicate that the interactive dialogue should be formed very specifically in order to create a helpful therapeutic relationship.