Related Experiment Videos
Supportive psychotherapy. The search for positive meanings
1North Devon Healthcare Trust, Barnstaple.
Summary
Supportive psychotherapy (ST) is an integral part of all psychotherapies, particularly for complex cases. This review highlights ST as a valuable, eclectic treatment modality requiring further research to define its full benefits and limitations in psychiatric practice.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychotherapy Research
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Growing interest in defining psychotherapeutic skills for psychiatrists.
- Increased recognition of the importance of support in formal psychotherapies, especially for severely disturbed patients.
- Supportive psychotherapy (ST) previously undervalued.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on supportive psychotherapy (ST).
- To explore the role and application of ST in psychiatric practice.
Main Methods:
- Medline literature search.
- Review of existing research on supportive psychotherapy.
Main Results:
- Support, from an attachment theory perspective, is integral to all psychotherapies.
- ST is a distinct treatment suitable for psychotic illnesses and borderline personality disorder.
- ST is eclectic, incorporating various theoretical approaches and emphasizing narrative co-construction and the search for positive meaning.
Conclusions:
- Supportive psychotherapy is a crucial element of effective psychiatric care.
- Further research is necessary to fully elucidate the benefits and limitations of ST.