Skip to main content
Log in

A Clinician-Researcher’s Understanding of “The Effectiveness of Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Clinical Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Leichsenring and Rabung’s meta-analysis of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy offers a useful summary of available research data. Their adaptation of meta-analysis has many merits as well as some important limitations. Their work provides preliminary support for the effectiveness of this therapy, a widely used method of treatment that also has detractors. The article also sets the stage for reviewing how the research ideology of evidence-based practice (EBP), and the economic forces behinds EBP, may limit research on several therapeutic methods of interest to clinical social workers and our clients. A call is made for additional high quality research on many therapies with considerable research support that may not (yet) meet the standards of EBP.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beck, A., & Bahr, S. (2009). Letter: Analyzing effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(9), 931.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Binks, C., Fenton, M., McCarthy, L., Lee, T., Adams, C., & Duggan, C. (2006). Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652. http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab005652.html.

  • Doyle, A. (2011). History of research on process relevant to clinical social work. Clinical Social Work Journal, 39(1), 68–78. doi:10.1007/s10615-010-0296-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drisko, J. (2009, January). Effective therapeutic interventions for Reactive Attachment Disorder: A mixed-method systematic research synthesis. Juried paper presented at the Society for Social Work & Research Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.

  • Haynes, R. B., Devereaux, P., & Guyatt, G. (2002). Clinical expertise in the era of evidence-based medicine and patient choice. Evidence Based Medicine, 7, 36–38. doi:10.1136/ebm.7.2.36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kriston, L., Hölzel, L., & Härter, M. (2009). Letter: Analyzing effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(9), 930–931.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leichsenring, F., & Rabung, S. (2008). The effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 300(13), 1551–1565.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Littell, J. (2011). Evidence-based practice versus practice-based research. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work and Research, Tampa, FL, January 15, 2011.

  • Littell, J., & Shlonsky, A. (2010). Making sense of meta-analysis: A critique of “The effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy”. Clinical Social Work Journal, doi:10.1007/s10615-010-0308-z.

  • Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. (2009). Levels of evidence. Retrieved from http://www.cebm.net/index.aspx?o=1025.

  • Petr, C. (2009). Multidimensional evidence-based practice: Synthesizing knowledge, research, and values. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roepke, S., & Reeneberg, B. (2009). Letter: Analyzing effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(9), 931–932.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roseborough, D. (2010). There are some things I don’t want to know: Leichsenring and Rabung’s long road to the 2008 JAMA report. Clinical Social Work Journal, doi:10.1007/s10615-010-0302-5.

  • Rubin, A. (2008). Practitioner’s guide to using research for evidence-based practice. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanenbaum, S. (2003). Evidence-based practice in mental health: Practical weakness meets political strengths. Journal of Evidence in Clinical Practice, 9, 287–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thombs, B., & Jewett, L. (2009). Letter: Analyzing effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(9), 930.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torgersen, S., Kringlen, E., & Cramer, V. (2001). The prevalence of personality disorders in a community sample. Archives of General Psychiatry, 58, 590–596.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zayas, L., Drake, B., & Jonson-Reid, M. (2010). Overrating or dismissing the value of evidence based practice: Consequences for clinical practice. Clinical Social Work Journal, doi:10.1007/s10615-010-0306-1.

  • Zilberstein, K. (2006). Clarifying core characteristics of attachment disorders: A review of current research and theory. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(1), 55–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James W. Drisko.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Drisko, J.W. A Clinician-Researcher’s Understanding of “The Effectiveness of Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”. Clin Soc Work J 39, 334–339 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-011-0350-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-011-0350-5

Keywords

Navigation