title: Failures in psychodynamic psychotherapy.
abstract: This article addresses the issue of failures in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Drawing on the clinical and research literatures, and utilizing our clinical experiences, we first describe and define criteria for success and failure in treatment. We then review five factors that can lead to failure: client factors, therapist factors, technical factors, relationship factors, and environmental factors. We illustrate our presentation with a case example, and conclude by discussing ways in which the likelihood of failures in psychodynamic treatment can be lowered.
authors.affiliation: Adelphi University, GardenCity, New York, USA. jrgold99@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stricker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003379:Countertransference; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness; D009042:Motivation; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012941:Social Responsibility; D017211:Treatment Failure