Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
09:55
Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
The emerging evidence for long-term psychodynamic therapy
Falk Leichsenring1, Allan Abbass, Patrick Luyten
1Clinic of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen, Germany. Falk.Leichsenring@psycho.med.uni-giessen.de
Psychodynamic Psychiatry
|September 5, 2013
Summary
Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (LTPP) remains superior to short-term psychotherapy for complex mental disorders. New meta-analyses confirm LTPP
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy, both short-term (STPP) and long-term (LTPP), is supported by RCTs for various mental disorders.
- Previous meta-analyses indicated LTPP's superiority over STPP, particularly for complex conditions.
- A recent meta-analysis by Smit et al. challenged the efficacy of LTPP, prompting further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically analyze the methodological shortcomings of the Smit et al. meta-analysis.
- To conduct new meta-analyses incorporating studies not previously included.
- To reassess the stability and validity of previous findings on LTPP efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Methodological critique of the Smit et al. (2012) meta-analysis.
- Two new meta-analyses were performed, including additional relevant studies.
- Comparison of results with previous meta-analyses to ensure stability.
Main Results:
- The Smit et al. meta-analysis compared LTPP with other long-term therapies, not shorter forms, thus not refuting LTPP's superiority over STPP.
- Methodological flaws were identified in the Smit et al. meta-analysis.
- New meta-analyses confirmed previous findings, showing LTPP is significantly superior to STPP for complex mental disorders.
Conclusions:
- Short-term psychotherapy may be insufficient for complex, chronic, or personality disorders.
- Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy is indicated for patients with complex mental health conditions.
- Further research is needed to explore LTPP and other long-term psychotherapies.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapies emphasize the exploration of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences as fundamental contributors to psychological difficulties. These therapies, deeply rooted in Freud's psychoanalytic theory, aim to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts, granting individuals insights that promote emotional and behavioral healing. Contemporary psychodynamic approaches have evolved, integrating a broader range of influences and methodologies while still valuing the...
01:27Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality
The psychodynamic perspective in psychology asserts that most personality functions operate unconsciously, outside of awareness. This means that the motives and emotions driving behavior often remain hidden, automatically buried in the unconscious mind as a defense mechanism to shield us from psychological distress. According to this theory, the unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories, and emotions that are too disturbing to face directly.
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...
01:25Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.
01:26Freudian Psychology
Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist born in 1856, significantly influenced psychology through his exploration of the unconscious mind. His interest in patients suffering from hysteria and neurosis — conditions without apparent physical causes — led him to theorize the existence of an unconscious mind, a repository for feelings and urges beyond our awareness. Freud's innovative approach included techniques such as dream analysis, free association, and attention to slips of the tongue to...
01:29Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory
Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory revolutionized psychology by introducing the idea that unconscious forces significantly shape human behavior. According to Freud, every psychological event is driven by deep-seated internal forces, often formed during early childhood. His theory, built on the premises of psychic determinism, symbolic meaning, and unconscious motivation, offers a unique perspective on the complexities of human behavior.
Freud's concept of psychic determinism asserts that...
Freud's concept of psychic determinism asserts that...
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...