The empirical status of psychodynamic therapies.
The goal of the current review is to examine the evidence for the efficacy of dynamic psychotherapy, primarily focusing on studies that meet the rigorous criteria proposed by Chambless & Hollon (1998). We examine whether any progress has been made over the past decade in evaluating the efficacy of dynamic psychotherapy using well-controlled randomized designs. Over the past decade, multiple studies have been published supporting the efficacy of dynamic psychotherapy for the treatment of specific mental disorders. Dynamic psychotherapy should now be included as a possibly efficacious treatment for panic disorder and borderline personality disorder, as well as the original designation of possibly efficacious in the treatment of opiate dependence. In the context of medication usage, dynamic psychotherapy should be considered efficacious in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies suggest that dynamic psychotherapy has great promise as a monotherapy for MDD and alcohol dependence and thus should be evaluated further.
Gibbons
Mary Beth Connolly
MB
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. gibbonsm@mail.med.upenn.edu
Crits-Christoph
Paul
P
Hearon
Bridget
B
D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D036262:Empirical Research; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy