Top 13 Studies Illustrating Effectiveness of Psychodynamic Therapy
This is a list of arguably some of the best articles for psychoanalytic psychotherapy. After this list is a much longer list of Randomized Controlled Trials and Effectiveness studies of Psychoanalytic (Psychodynamic) Psychotherapy.
You can download a folder of all 13 studies here.
1. Abbass, A.A., Kisely, S.R., Town, J.M., Leichsenring, F., Driessen, E., … Crowe, E. (2014). Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapies for common mental disorders (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(7), 1-108.
2. Driessen, E., Cuijpers, P., de Maat, S. C. M., Abbass, A. A., de Jonghe, F., & Dekker, J. J. M. (2010). The efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(1), 25-36. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.08.010
3. Hayes, J. A., Gelso, C. J., Goldberg, S., & Kivlighan, D. M. (2018). Countertransference management and effective psychotherapy: Meta-analytic findings. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 496–507.
4. Keefe, J. R., McCarthy, K. S., Dinger, U., Zilcha-Mano, S., & Barber, J. P. (2014). A meta-analytic review of psychodynamic therapies for anxiety disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 34(4), 309-323. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2014.03.004
5. Leichsenring, F., Luyten, P., Hilsenroth, M. J., Abbass, A., Barber, J. P., Keefe, J. R., . . . Steinert, C., (2015). Psychodynamic therapy meets evidence-based medicine: A systematic review using updated criteria. Lancet Psychiatry, 2(7), 648-660. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00155-8
6. Shedler, J. (2010). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 65(2), 98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378
7. Steinert, C., Munder, T., Rabung, S., Hoyer, J., & Leichsenring, F. (2017). Psychodynamic therapy: As efficacious as other empirically supported treatments? A meta-analysis testing equivalence of outcomes. American Journal of Psychiatry, 174(10), 943-953. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17010057
8. Westen, D. (1998). The scientific legacy of sigmund freud: Toward a psychodynamically informed psychological science. Psychological Bulletin, 124(3), 333-371. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.124.3.333
9. Driessen, E., Hegelmaier, L. M., Abbass, A. A., Barber, J. P., Dekker, J. J. M., Van, H. L., . . . Cuijpers, P. (2015). The efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression: A meta-analysis update. Clinical Psychology Review, 42, 1-15. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.07.004
10. Keefe, J. R., McMain, S. F., McCarthy, K. S., Zilcha-Mano, S., Dinger, U., Sahin, Z., . . . Barber, J. P. (2019). A meta-analysis of psychodynamic treatments for borderline and cluster C personality disorders. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, doi:10.1037/per0000382
11. Barlow, J., Bennett, C., Midgley, N., Larkin, S. K., & Wei, Y. (2015). Parent-infant psychotherapy for improving parental and infant mental health. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, CD010534.
12. Abbass, A., Rabung, S., Leichsenring, F., Refseth, J. and Midgley, N. (2013). Psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of short-term psychodynamic models. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(8), 863-875. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.014
13. Høglend, P., Amlo, S., Marble, A., Bøgwald, K. P., Sørbye, Ø., Sjaastad, M. C., & Heyerdahl, O. (2006). Analysis of the patient-therapist relationship in dynamic psychotherapy: An experimental study of transference interpretations. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(10), 1739-1746.
Hoglend 2006
References for Effectiveness and Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
If you are not a UBC student and would like to access one or more of these documents, please send us an email at hewittlab@psych.ubc.ca.
Randomized Controlled Trial
See summary here
Meta-analyses
Cuijpers, P., van Straten, A., Andersson, G., & van Oppen, P. (2008). Psychotherapy for depression in adults: A meta-analysis of comparative outcome studies. Journal of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 76(6), 909-922. doi:10.1037/a0013075
Leichsenring, F., & Rabung, S. (2011). Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy in complex mental disorders: Update of a meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(1), 15-22. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.110.082776
Driessen, E., Cuijpers, P., de Maat, S. M., Abbass, A. A., de Jonghe, F., & Dekker, J. M. (2010). The efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(1), 25-36. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.08.010
Shedler, J. (2010). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 65(2), 98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378
Leichsenring, F., Rabung, S., & Leibing, E. (2004). The efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy in specific psychiatric disorders: A Meta-analysis. Archives Of General Psychiatry, 61(12), 1208-1216. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.61.12.1208
Leichsenring, F., & Rabung, S. (2008). Effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of The American Medical Association, 300(13), 1551-1565. doi:10.1001/jama.300.13.1551
Svartberg, M., & Stiles, T. C. (1991). Comparative effects of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 59(5), 704-714. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.59.5.704
Abbass, A., Town, J., & Driessen, E. (2011). The efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depressive disorders with comorbid personality disorder. Psychiatry: Interpersonal And Biological Processes, 74(1), 58-71. doi:10.1521/psyc.2011.74.1.58
Smit, Y., Huibers, M. H., Ioannidis, J. A., van Dyck, R., van Tilburg, W., & Arntz, A. (2012). The effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy—A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(2), 81-92. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.11.003
| Reviews |
| Bateman, A. W., & Fonagy, P. (2000). Effectiveness of psychotherapeutic treatment of personality disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 177, 138-143. doi:10.1192/bjp.177.2.138 |
| Link |
| Fonagy, P., Roth, A., & Higgitt, A. (2005). The outcome of psychodynamic psychotherapy for psychological disorders. Clinical Neuroscience Research, 4(5-6), 367–377. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnr.2005.03.005 |
| Link |
| Beail, N. (2003). What works for people with mental retardation? Critical commentary on cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic psychotherapy research. Mental Retardation, 41(6), 468-472. doi:10.1352/0047-6765(2003)412.0.CO;2 |
| Link |
| Gabbard, G. O. (2001). Empirical evidence and psychotherapy: A growing scientific base. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(1), 1–3. http://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.158.1.1 |
| Link |
| Milton, J. (2001). Psychoanalysis and cognitive behaviour therapy–Rival paradigms or common ground?. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 82(3), 431-447. doi:10.1516/DVLN-RK5E-C1YV-ME4V |
| Link |
| Fonagy, P. (2003). The research agenda: The vital need for empirical research in child psychotherapy. Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 29(2), 129-136. |
| Link |
| Fonagy, P., & Target, M. (1996). Predictors of outcome in child psychoanalysis: A retrospective study of 763 cases at the Anna Freud Centre. Journal of The American Psychoanalytic Association, 44(1), 27-77. |
| Link |
| Midgley, N., & Kennedy, E. (2011). Psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adolescents: A critical review of the evidence base. Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 37(3), 232-260. doi:10.1080/0075417X.2011.614738 |
| Link |
| Willner, P. (2005). The effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for people with learning disabilities: A critical overview. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49(1), 73-85. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00633.x |
| Link |
| Gottesfeld, M. L. (1985). Mystical aspects of psychotherapeutic efficacy. Psychoanalytic Review, 72(4), 589-597. |
| Link |
| Incomplete List of Individual Studies |
| Burnand, Y., Andreoli, A., Kolatte, E., Venturini, A., & Rosset, N. (2002). Psychodynamic psychotherapy and clomipramine in the treatment of major depression. Psychiatric Services, 53(5), 585-590. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.53.5.585 |
| Link |
| Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2001). Treatment of borderline personality disorder with psychoanalytically oriented partial hospitalization: An 18-month follow-up. The American Journal Of Psychiatry, 158(1), 36-42. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.158.1.36 |
| Link |
| Driessen, E., Van, H. L., Don, F. J., Peen, J., Kool, S., Westra, D., & … Dekker, J. M. (2013). The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy in the outpatient treatment of major depression: A randomized clinical trial. The American Journal Of Psychiatry, 170(9), 1041-1050. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12070899 |
| Link |
| Freedman, N., Hoffenberg, J. D., Vorus, N., & Frosch, A. (1999). The effectiveness of psychoanalytic psychotherapy: The role of treatment duration, frequency of sessions, and the therapeutic relationship. Journal Of The American Psychoanalytic Association, 47(3), 741-772. doi:10.1177/00030651990470031001 |
| Link |
| Bressi, C., Porcellana, M., Marinaccio, P. M., Nocito, E. P., & Magri, L. (2010). Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy versus treatment as usual for depressive and anxiety disorders: A randomized clinical trial of efficacy. Journal Of Nervous And Mental Disease, 198(9), 647-652. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181ef3ebb |
| Link |
| Hilsenroth, M. J., Ackerman, S. J., Blagys, M. D., Baity, M. R., & Mooney, M. A. (2003). Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression: An examination of statistical, clinically significant, and technique-specific change. Journal Of Nervous And Mental Disease, 191(6), 349-357. doi:10.1097/00005053-200306000-00001 |
| Link |
| Krystal, H. (1982). Alexithymia and the effectiveness of psychoanalytic treatment. International Journal Of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, 9353-378. |
| Link |
| Piper, W. E., Debbane, E. G., Bienvenu, J. P., & Garant, J. (1984). A comparative study of four forms of psychotherapy. Journal Of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 52(2), 268-279. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.52.2.268 |
| Link |
| Blatt, S. J., & Shahar, G. (2004). Psychoanalysis–with whom, for what, and how? Comparisons with psychotherapy. Journal of The American Psychoanalytic Association, 52(2), 393-447. |
| Link |
| Knekt, P., Lindfors, O., Härkänen, T., Välikoski, M., Virtala, E., Laaksonen, M. A., & … Renlund, C. (2008). Randomized trial on the effectiveness of long- and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and solution-focused therapy on psychiatric symptoms during a 3-year follow-up. Psychological Medicine, 38(5), 689-703. doi:10.1017/S003329170700164X |
| Link |
| Haase, M., Frommer, J., Franke, G., Hoffmann, T., Schulze-Muetzel, J., Jäger, S., & … Schmitz, N. (2008). From symptom relief to interpersonal change: Treatment outcome and effectiveness in inpatient psychotherapy. Psychotherapy Research, 18(5), 615-624. doi:10.1080/10503300802192158 |
| Link |
| Watzke, B., Rüddel, H., Jürgensen, R., Koch, U., Kriston, L., Grothgar, B., & Schulz, H. (2010). Effectiveness of systematic treatment selection for psychodynamic and cognitive–behavioural therapy: Randomised controlled trial in routine mental healthcare. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 197(2), 96-105. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.109.072835 |
| Link |
| Milrod, B., Leon, A. C., Busch, F., Rudden, M., Schwalberg, M., Clarkin, J., & … Shear, M. K. (2007). A randomized controlled clinical trial of psychoanalytic psychotherapy for panic disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(2), 265-272. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.164.2.265 |
| Link |
| Busch, F. N., Milrod, B. L., & Sandberg, L. S. (2009). A study demonstrating efficacy of a psychoanalytic psychotherapy for panic disorder: Implications for psychoanalytic research, theory, and practice. Journal of The American Psychoanalytic Association, 57(1), 131-148. doi:10.1177/0003065108329677 |
| Link |
| Target, M., & Fonagy, P. (1994). The efficacy of psychoanalysis for children: Prediction of outcome in a developmental context. Journal of The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(8), 1134-1144. doi:10.1097/00004583-199410000-00009 |
| Link |
| Fonagy, P., & Target, M. (1994). The efficacy of psychoanalysis for children with disruptive disorders. Journal of The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(1), 45-55. doi:10.1097/00004583-199401000-00007 |
| Link |
| Fonagy, P., & Moran, G. S. (1990). Studies on the efficacy of child psychoanalysis. Journal of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 58(6), 684-695. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.58.6.684 |
| Link |
| Target, M., & Fonagy, P. (1994). Efficacy of psychoanalysis for children with emotional disorders. Journal Of The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(3), 361-371. doi:10.1097/00004583-199403000-00010 |
| Link |
| Philips, B., Wennberg, P., Werbart, A., & Schubert, J. (2006). Young adults in psychoanalytic psychotherapy: Patient characteristics and therapy outcome. Psychology And Psychotherapy: Theory, Research And Practice, 79(1), 89-106. doi:10.1348/147608305X52649 |
| Link |
| Baruch, G. (1995). Evaluating the outcome of a community-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy service for young people between 12 and 25 years old: Work in progress. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, 9(3), 243-267. doi:10.1080/02668739500700251 |
| Link |
| Deakin, E. K., & Nunes, M. T. (2009). Effectiveness of child psychoanalytic psychotherapy in a clinical outpatient setting. Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 35(3), 290-301. doi:10.1080/00754170903244621 |
| Link |
| Lush, D., Boston, M., & Grainger, E. (1991). Evaluation of psychoanalytic psychotherapy with children: Therapists’ assessments and predictions. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, 5(3), 191-234. doi:10.1080/02668739100700101 |
| Link |
| Tonge, B. J., Pullen, J. M., Hughes, G. C., & Beaufoy, J. (2009). Effectiveness of psychoanalytic psychotherapy for adolescents with serious mental illness: 12 month naturalistic follow-up study. Australian And New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 43(5), 467-475. doi:10.1080/00048670902817679 |
| Link |
| Beail, N., Warden, S., Morsley, K., & Newman, D. (2005). Naturalistic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy with Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of Applied Research In Intellectual Disabilities, 18(3), 245-251. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3148.2005.00223.x |
| Link |
| Beail, N. (1998). Psychoanalytic psychotherapy with men with intellectual disabilities: A preliminary outcome study. British Journal Of Medical Psychology, 71(1), 1-11. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8341.1998.tb01363.x |
| Link |
| Vinnars, B., Barber, J. P., Norén, K., Gallop, R., & Weinryb, R. M. (2005). Manualized supportive-expressive psychotherapy versus nonmanualized community-delivered psychodynamic therapy for patients with personality disorders: Bridging efficacy and effectiveness. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(10), 1933-1940. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.162.10.1933 |
| Link |
| Steuer, J. L., Mintz, J., Hammen, C. L., Hill, M. A., Jarvik, L. F., McCarley, T., & … Rosen, R. (1984). Cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic group psychotherapy in treatment of geriatric depression. Journal Of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 52(2), 180-189. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.52.2.180 |
| Link |
| Leichsenring, F., Masuhr, O., Jaeger, U., Dally, A., & Streeck, U. (2010). The effectiveness of psychoanalytic-interactional psychotherapy in borderline personality disorder. Bulletin Of The Menninger Clinic, 74(3), 206-218. doi:10.1521/bumc.2010.74.3.206 |
| Link |
| Gabbard, G. O. (2000). Psychodynamic psychotherapy of borderline personality disorder: A contemporary approach. Bulletin Of The Menninger Clinic, 65(1), 41-57. doi:10.1521/bumc.65.1.41.18705 |
| Link |
| Books/Book Chapters |
| Levy, R. A., Ablon, J. S. (2009). Handbook of evidence-based psychodynamic psychotherapy: Bridging the gap between science and practice. New York: Humana Press |
| Keller, W., Westhoff, G., Dilg, R., Rohner, R., & Studt, H. H. (2002). Efficacy and cost effectiveness aspects of outpatient (Jungian) psychoanalysis and psychotherapy–a catamnestic study. In M. Leuzinger-Bohleber, M. Target, M. Leuzinger-Bohleber, M. Target (Eds.), Outcomes of psychoanalytic treatment: Perspectives for therapists and researchers (pp. 186-197). Philadelphia, PA, US: Whurr Publishers. |