Skip to main content
Log in

Selection criteria for individual dynamic psychotherapies

  • Articles
  • Published:
Psychiatric Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The authors discuss the indications, contraindications, and enabling factors for four types of psychodynamically informed psychotherapy: supportive, focal, exploratory, and psychoanalysis. They outline the inherent and practical difficulties impeding psychotherapy outcome studies and summarize the limited research regarding psychodynamic treatments. The overall efficacy of psychotherapy has been documented, but to date studies have not demonstrated specific differential effectiveness and indications. The authors present the rationale for each of the four approaches and suggest ways of selecting among them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Office of Technology Assessment: The effects and cost effectiveness of psychotherapy. Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Frances A, Clarkin J: Differential therapeutics: A guide to treatment selection.Hosp Comm Psychiat 32:537–546, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Clarkin J, Frances A, Moodie J: Selection criteria for family therapy.Fam Proc 18:391–403, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Frances A, Clarkin J, Marachi J: Selection criteria for outpatient group psychotherapy.Hosp Comm Psychiat 31:245–250, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Clarkin JF, Frances A: Selection criteria for the brief psychotherapies.Am J Psychother 36:166–180, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Klar H, Frances A, Clarkin J: Selection criteria for partial hospitalization.Hosp Comm Psychiat 33:929–933, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Frances A, Clarkin J: No treatment as prescription of choice.Arch Gen Psychiat 38:542–545, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mintz J: Measuring outcome in psychodynamic psychotherapy.Arch Gen Psychiat 38:503–506, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kiesler DJ: Some myths of psychotherapy and the search for a paradigm.Psychol Bull 65:110–36, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schafer R: The termination of brief psychoanalytic psychotherapy.Int J Psychoanal Psychother 2:135–148, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Luborsky L, Spence D: Quantitative research on psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In Garfield S, Bergin A (Eds):Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change. New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hine FR, Werman DS, Simpson DM: Effectiveness of psychotherapy: Problems of research on complex phenomena.Am J Psychiat 139:204–207, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Eyesenck HF: The effects of psychotherapy: An evaluation.J Consult Psychol 33:517, 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Eyesenck HJ: The effects of psychotherapy.Intl J Psychiat 1:97–142, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Smith ML, Glass GV, Miller TI: The benefits of psychotherapy. Baltimore, John Hopkins Press, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Luborsky L, Mintz J, Auerbach A: Predicting the outcome of psychotherapy.Arch Gen Psychiat 37:471–481, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Parloff, MB: Can psychotherapy research guide the policymaker? A little knowledge may be a dangerous thing.J Am Psychol 34:296–304, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Andrews G, Harvey R: Does psychotherapy benefit neurotic patients?Arch Gen Psychiat 38:1203–1208, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Luborsky L, Chandler M, Auerbach A: Factors influencing the outcome of psychotherapy: A review of quantitative research.Psychol Bull 75:145, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Auerbach AH, Luborsky L, Johnson M: Clinicians predictions of outcome of psychotherapy: A trial of a prognostic index.Psychiatry 128:830–835, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mitchell KM, Bozarth JD, Karuft CC: A reappraisal of the therapeutic effectiveness of accurate empathy, non-possessive warmth and genuiness. In Gurman A, Razin A (Eds):Effective psychotherapy. New York, Pergamon Press, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Barron F: An ego-strength scale which predicts response to psychotherapy.J Consult Psychol 17:327–333, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  23. McNair DM, Lorr M, Young HH et al.: A three-year follow-up of psychotherapy patients.J Clin Psychol 20:258–264, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Hamburg DA, Bibring GL, Fisher C et al.: Report of ad hoc committee of central fact-gathering data of the American Psychoanalytic Association.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 15:841–861, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Stone A, Frank JD, Nash E et al.: An intensive five year follow-up of treated psychiatric outpatients.J Nerv Ment Dis 133:410–422, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Luborsky L (Eds): The patient's personality and psychotherapeutic change. In Strupp H, Luborsky L (Eds):Research in psychotherapy, vol. 2. Washington DC, American Psychological Association, 1973.

  27. Knapp PH, Levin S, MC Carter RH et al.: Suitability for psychoanalysis: A review of 100 supervised analytic cases.Psychoanal Q 29:457–459, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Strupp HH: Success and failure in time limited therapy: Further evidence (Com. 4)Arch Gen Psychiat 37:947–954, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Greenspan SI, Sharfstein SS: Efficacy of psychotherapy: Asking the right questions.Arch Gen Psychiat 38:1213–1219, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Gelder MG, Marks IM: Severe agoraphobia: A controlled prospective trial of behavior therapy.Br J Psychiat 112:309–319, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Beck AT:Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York, International Universities Press, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Klerman GL, DiMascio A, Weissman M et al.: Treatment of depression by drugs and psychotherapy.Am J Psychiat 131:186-191, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sloane RB, Staples FR, Cristol AH et al.:Psychotherapy versus behavior therapy. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Malan DH:The frontier of brief psychotherapy. New York, Plenum Medical Book Co, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kernberg OF, Burstein ED, Coyne L et al.: Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis: Final report of the Menninger Foundation's Psychotherapy research project.Bull Menninger Clin 36:3–275, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  36. McNair DM: Discussion: Comments of the Menninger Project. In Spitzer RL, Klein DF (Eds):Evaluation of psychological therapies. Baltimore, John Hopkins University Press, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Malan DH: Science and psychotherapy.Intl J Psychiat 11:87–90, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  38. May PR: Research in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.Intl J Psychiat 11:78–86, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Levin S: Problems in the evaluation of patients for psychoanalysis.Bull Phila Assoc Psychoanal 10:86–95, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Kraner Y: A discussion of Kernberg's theory of borderline personality organization. In:Review of the borderline personality, Kris Study Group Presentation. New York, 1978 (unpublished manuscript).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Brinkley JR, Beitman BD, Friedal RO: Low dose neuroleptic regimens in the treatment of borderline patients.Arch Gen Psychiat 36:319–326, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Rozenzweig S: Some implicit common factors in diverse methods of psychotherapy.Am J Orthopsychiat 6:412–415, 1936.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Frank D:Persuasion and healing. Baltimore, John Hopkins University Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Strupp HH, Hadley SW: Specific vs. nonspecific factors in psychotherapy.Arch Gen Psychiat 36:1125–1136, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Strupp HH, Bergin AE: Some empirical and conceptual bases for coordinated research in psychotherapy: A critical review of issues, trends, and evidence.Intl J Psychiat 7:18–90, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Waldhorn H: Indications for psychoanalysis. In Joseph E (Ed):Kris Study Group monograph. New York, International Universities Press, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Bachrach HM, Leaff LA: Analyzability: A systematic review of the clinical and quantitative literature.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 26:881–90, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  48. American Psychiatric Association:Manual of psychiatric peer review. Washington DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Tyson RL, Sandler J: Problems in the selection of patients for psychoanalysis: Comments on the application of the concepts of indications suitability and analysability.Br J Med Psychol 44:211-229, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Stone L: The widening scope of indications for psychoanalysis.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 12:567-594, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Bak R: Psychoanalysis today.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 18:3–23, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Eissler K: The effect of the structure of the ego on psychoanalytic technique.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 1:104–143, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Goldberg A:Psychology of the self. New York, International Universities Press, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Langs R:The technique of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, vol. 2. New York, Jason Aronson Inc., 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Blanck G, Blanck R:Ego psychology theory and practice. New York, Columbia University Press, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Mann J:Time limited psychotherapy. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Sifneos P:Short-term psychotherapy and emotional crisis. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Viederman M, Perry S: Use of a psychodynamic life narrative in the treatment of depression in the physically ill.Gen Hosp Psychiat 3:177–185, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Kerberg OF: Supportive psychotherapy with borderline conditions. In Cavenar JO, Brodie HK, (Eds):Critical problems in psychiatry. Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Mendel WM:Supportive care theory and technique. Los Angeles, Mara Books Inc., 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Perry S, Viederman M: Adaptation of residents to consultation—liaison psychiatry.Gen Hosp Psychiat 2:141–147, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Alexander F: Psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:722–733, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Bibring E: Psychoanalysis and the dynamic psychotherapies.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:745–770, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Fromm-Reichmann F: Psychoanalytic and general dynamic conceptions of theory and of therapy: Differences and similarities.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:711–721, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Gill M: Psychoanalysis and exploratory psychotherapy.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:771–797, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Rangell L: Similarities and differences between psychoanalysis and dynamic psychotherapy.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:724, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Tarachow S, Stein A: Psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In Wollman B:Psychoanalytic techniques: A handbook for the practicing psychoanalyst. New York, Basic Books, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Wallerstein RS: Introduction to panel on psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.Intl J Psychoanal 50:177–126, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Perry, S., Frances, A., Klar, H. et al. Selection criteria for individual dynamic psychotherapies. Psych Quart 55, 3–16 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064832

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064832

Keywords

Navigation