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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Office of Technology Assessment: The effects and cost effectiveness of psychotherapy. Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1980.
Frances A, Clarkin J: Differential therapeutics: A guide to treatment selection.Hosp Comm Psychiat 32:537–546, 1981.
Clarkin J, Frances A, Moodie J: Selection criteria for family therapy.Fam Proc 18:391–403, 1979.
Frances A, Clarkin J, Marachi J: Selection criteria for outpatient group psychotherapy.Hosp Comm Psychiat 31:245–250, 1979.
Clarkin JF, Frances A: Selection criteria for the brief psychotherapies.Am J Psychother 36:166–180, 1982.
Klar H, Frances A, Clarkin J: Selection criteria for partial hospitalization.Hosp Comm Psychiat 33:929–933, 1982.
Frances A, Clarkin J: No treatment as prescription of choice.Arch Gen Psychiat 38:542–545, 1981.
Mintz J: Measuring outcome in psychodynamic psychotherapy.Arch Gen Psychiat 38:503–506, 1981.
Kiesler DJ: Some myths of psychotherapy and the search for a paradigm.Psychol Bull 65:110–36, 1966.
Schafer R: The termination of brief psychoanalytic psychotherapy.Int J Psychoanal Psychother 2:135–148, 1973.
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.
Hine FR, Werman DS, Simpson DM: Effectiveness of psychotherapy: Problems of research on complex phenomena.Am J Psychiat 139:204–207, 1982.
Eyesenck HF: The effects of psychotherapy: An evaluation.J Consult Psychol 33:517, 1952.
Eyesenck HJ: The effects of psychotherapy.Intl J Psychiat 1:97–142, 1965.
Smith ML, Glass GV, Miller TI: The benefits of psychotherapy. Baltimore, John Hopkins Press, 1980.
Luborsky L, Mintz J, Auerbach A: Predicting the outcome of psychotherapy.Arch Gen Psychiat 37:471–481, 1980.
Parloff, MB: Can psychotherapy research guide the policymaker? A little knowledge may be a dangerous thing.J Am Psychol 34:296–304, 1979.
Andrews G, Harvey R: Does psychotherapy benefit neurotic patients?Arch Gen Psychiat 38:1203–1208, 1981.
Luborsky L, Chandler M, Auerbach A: Factors influencing the outcome of psychotherapy: A review of quantitative research.Psychol Bull 75:145, 1971.
Auerbach AH, Luborsky L, Johnson M: Clinicians predictions of outcome of psychotherapy: A trial of a prognostic index.Psychiatry 128:830–835, 1973.
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.
Barron F: An ego-strength scale which predicts response to psychotherapy.J Consult Psychol 17:327–333, 1953.
McNair DM, Lorr M, Young HH et al.: A three-year follow-up of psychotherapy patients.J Clin Psychol 20:258–264, 1964.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Strupp HH: Success and failure in time limited therapy: Further evidence (Com. 4)Arch Gen Psychiat 37:947–954, 1980.
Greenspan SI, Sharfstein SS: Efficacy of psychotherapy: Asking the right questions.Arch Gen Psychiat 38:1213–1219, 1981.
Gelder MG, Marks IM: Severe agoraphobia: A controlled prospective trial of behavior therapy.Br J Psychiat 112:309–319, 1966.
Beck AT:Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York, International Universities Press, 1976.
Klerman GL, DiMascio A, Weissman M et al.: Treatment of depression by drugs and psychotherapy.Am J Psychiat 131:186-191, 1974.
Sloane RB, Staples FR, Cristol AH et al.:Psychotherapy versus behavior therapy. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1975.
Malan DH:The frontier of brief psychotherapy. New York, Plenum Medical Book Co, 1976.
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.
McNair DM: Discussion: Comments of the Menninger Project. In Spitzer RL, Klein DF (Eds):Evaluation of psychological therapies. Baltimore, John Hopkins University Press, 1974.
Malan DH: Science and psychotherapy.Intl J Psychiat 11:87–90, 1973.
May PR: Research in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.Intl J Psychiat 11:78–86, 1973.
Levin S: Problems in the evaluation of patients for psychoanalysis.Bull Phila Assoc Psychoanal 10:86–95, 1960.
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).
Brinkley JR, Beitman BD, Friedal RO: Low dose neuroleptic regimens in the treatment of borderline patients.Arch Gen Psychiat 36:319–326, 1979.
Rozenzweig S: Some implicit common factors in diverse methods of psychotherapy.Am J Orthopsychiat 6:412–415, 1936.
Frank D:Persuasion and healing. Baltimore, John Hopkins University Press, 1973.
Strupp HH, Hadley SW: Specific vs. nonspecific factors in psychotherapy.Arch Gen Psychiat 36:1125–1136, 1976.
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.
Waldhorn H: Indications for psychoanalysis. In Joseph E (Ed):Kris Study Group monograph. New York, International Universities Press, 1967.
Bachrach HM, Leaff LA: Analyzability: A systematic review of the clinical and quantitative literature.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 26:881–90, 1970.
American Psychiatric Association:Manual of psychiatric peer review. Washington DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1976.
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.
Stone L: The widening scope of indications for psychoanalysis.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 12:567-594, 1954.
Bak R: Psychoanalysis today.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 18:3–23, 1970.
Eissler K: The effect of the structure of the ego on psychoanalytic technique.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 1:104–143, 1953.
Goldberg A:Psychology of the self. New York, International Universities Press, 1978.
Langs R:The technique of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, vol. 2. New York, Jason Aronson Inc., 1973.
Blanck G, Blanck R:Ego psychology theory and practice. New York, Columbia University Press, 1974.
Mann J:Time limited psychotherapy. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1973.
Sifneos P:Short-term psychotherapy and emotional crisis. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1972.
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.
Kerberg OF: Supportive psychotherapy with borderline conditions. In Cavenar JO, Brodie HK, (Eds):Critical problems in psychiatry. Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1982.
Mendel WM:Supportive care theory and technique. Los Angeles, Mara Books Inc., 1975.
Perry S, Viederman M: Adaptation of residents to consultation—liaison psychiatry.Gen Hosp Psychiat 2:141–147, 1981.
Alexander F: Psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:722–733, 1954.
Bibring E: Psychoanalysis and the dynamic psychotherapies.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:745–770, 1954.
Fromm-Reichmann F: Psychoanalytic and general dynamic conceptions of theory and of therapy: Differences and similarities.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:711–721, 1954.
Gill M: Psychoanalysis and exploratory psychotherapy.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:771–797, 1954.
Rangell L: Similarities and differences between psychoanalysis and dynamic psychotherapy.J Am Psychoanal Assoc 2:724, 1954.
Tarachow S, Stein A: Psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In Wollman B:Psychoanalytic techniques: A handbook for the practicing psychoanalyst. New York, Basic Books, 1967.
Wallerstein RS: Introduction to panel on psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.Intl J Psychoanal 50:177–126, 1969.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights 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
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064832