title: Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy in complex mental disorders: update of a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dose-effect relationship data suggest that short-term psychotherapy is insufficient for many patients with chronic distress or personality disorders (complex mental disorders).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the comparative efficacy of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (LTPP) in complex mental disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a meta-analysis of controlled trials of LTPP fulfilling the following inclusion criteria: therapy lasting for at least a year or 50 sessions; active comparison conditions; prospective design; reliable and valid outcome measures; treatments terminated. Ten studies with 971 patients were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between-group effect sizes in favour of LTPP compared with less intensive (lower dose) forms of psychotherapy ranged between 0.44 and 0.68.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that LTPP is superior to less intensive forms of psychotherapy in complex mental disorders. Further research on long-term psychotherapy is needed, not only for psychodynamic psychotherapy, but also for other therapies.
authors: Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany. Falk.Leichsenring@psycho.med.uni-giessen.de
authors: Falk
authors: F
authors: Leichsenring
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Rabung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome