Latent trajectories of change for clients at a psychodynamic training clinic

Employing practice-based research methods, we addressed the need to examine the effectiveness of psychodynamic treatment as a supplement to the efficacy evidence offered by randomized clinical trials.

We used person-centered analyses to generate latent subgroups of clients (N = 118; M _age  = 40.92; 53.4% female; 81.4% Caucasian; 80.5% heterosexual) receiving contemporary relational psychotherapy (CRP) at a psychodynamic community mental health training clinic.

Subgroups of clients reported a change in depression, social conflict, and anxiety symptomatology, and overall life satisfaction, depicted by significant quadratic growth curves. Findings also offered exploratory support for a theoretical proposition from CRP that improved relational functioning would correspond to improved affect dysregulation and overall life satisfaction.

Clinical and training implications highlight the need to distinguish subgroups of "responders" and "nonresponders" to inform treatment.