title: Systematic review of studies about countertransference in adult psychotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Countertransference, the emotional reaction of a psychotherapist toward a patient, is an important technical element of psychotherapy. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and describe the main findings of studies that evaluated countertransference in adult psychotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search was conducted of the databases Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Knowledge to retrieve data published in any language at any time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,081 studies found in the databases, 25 were selected. Most were about psychodynamic psychotherapy, and results indicated that positive countertransference, that is, feelings of closeness to the patient, are associated with positive outcomes, such as symptom improvement and good therapeutic alliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although few studies were found in the literature, countertransference seems to be an important source of knowledge about several aspects, such as treatment outcomes, attachment style, therapeutic alliance, patient symptoms and diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogo de Bitencourt
authors.initials: Dde B
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Monteiro da Cunha
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atenção Psicossocial, São Luiz Gonzaga, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Augusto Dutra
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.affiliation: Escola de Saúde Pública, São Lourenço do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Almeida Lopes
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Donassolo
authors.affiliation: UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Morgana Sonza
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abitante
authors.affiliation: CAPS II, Blumenau, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiane
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dall'Agnol
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudio Laks
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Eizirik