A perspective on the psychotherapy of schizophrenia project

Psychotherapy of schizophrenia has engendered widespread interest and controversy. Etiologic theories and ideologic orientation toward psychopathology have unduly influenced clinicians' therapeutic approach, and only recently has the drug versus psychotherapy polemic given way to scientific study and integration of seemingly distinct treatments. The Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia Project provides an important new perspective on methodology and data analysis. A differential effect between two psychotherapies was hypothesized, but results support the view that supportive psychotherapy is at least as effective as more intensive psychotherapy based on psychoanalytic theory and psychodynamic practice. The more general question of efficacy of psychotherapies is not addressed, but it is a vitally important issue which demands the critical attention of advocates rather than advocacy devoid of efficacy data.