Does emotional processing predict 18-month post-therapy outcomes in the experiential treatment of major depression?

This study tested whether emotion-focused therapy's (EFT) emotion processing theory serves as a predictor of 18-month post-therapy outcomes for major depressive disorder (MDD), independent of experiential therapy received. We examined sequences of emotion episodes using the THEME™ sequential analysis of emotional processing in 55 clients who provided 18-month post-therapy Beck Depression Inventory reports after receiving experiential treatment in the York I and II trials, either emotion-focused or client-centered therapy. Archival Classification of Affective Meaning States (CAMS) ratings of emotion episodes of clients' working-phase sessions were analyzed using THEME™ sequential analyses of emotions coded during emotion episodes.