An electrophysiological investigation of emotional change: preliminary data

Many psychotherapy researchers agree that emotional change is critical to therapeutic progress. In emotion-focused and Gestalt therapy, one technique to foster emotional change is the empty chair dialogue. Psychotherapy research has yielded ample evidence that this technique helps to alleviate longstanding interpersonal grievances (‘unfinished business’) and facilitates emotional change. Until now, little is known about the neurophysiological correlates of such emotional change. The present study thus aims at adding a further level of analysis to psychotherapy research, and may enrich knowledge about mechanisms of change. Neurophysiological correlates of emotional change were investigated using multi-channel electroencephalography. Individuals experiencing ‘unfinished business’ were guided by experienced therapists to participate in an empty chair dialogue. Event-related brain potentials were recorded before and after the intervention while participants were viewing pictures of the person central to their interpersonal grievance as well as pictures of control persons. Event related potentials are compared regarding topography and overall signal strength. Preliminary results will be discussed regarding neurophysiological mechanisms of action potentially occurring during emotional change.

Promoting physical activity in overweight couples: Effectiveness of a dyadic action control trial (DYACTIC)

Background: Health behavior change models identify effective self-regulatory skills for behavioral change, but the social context is usually neglected. This study investigated the effectiveness of a dyadic conceptualization of action control for promoting physical activity. Methods: 121 overweight individuals and their partners were randomly allocated to one of two experimental (dyadic vs. individual action control) and two control conditions. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline (T1) and four weeks later (T2) including measures of action control and 7-day recall physical activity. Findings: Results showed that action control signi+cantly increased from T1 to T2 and was overall higher in the experimental conditions compared to control conditions. In terms of physical activity, no overall intervention effect emerged. However, post hoc analyses revealed higher mean levels of sport activities in the dyadic intervention group compared to all other groups. Discussion: Overall, +ndings provide +rst support for the usefulness of a dyadic action control intervention, and suggest further investigation of objective measures of physical activity and secondary outcomes