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Cited by 281Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Comparative effects of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in depression

Leichsenring, Falk·2001·Clinical Psychology Review
DOI 10.1016/s0272-7358(99)00057-4
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Abstract

Unlabelled This article reviews the efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) in depression compared to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or behavioral therapy (BT). In this review, only studies in which at least 13 therapy sessions were performed have been included, and a sufficient number of patients per group were treated (N > or = 20). With regard to outcome criteria, the results were reviewed for improvements in depressive symptoms, general psychiatric symptoms, and social functioning. Six studies met the inclusion criteria.Results In 58 of the 60 comparisons (97%) performed in the six studies and their follow-ups, no significant difference could be detected between STPP and CBT/BT concerning the effects in depressive symptoms, general psychiatric symptomatology, and social functioning. Furthermore, STPP and CBT/BT did not differ significantly with regard to the patients that were judged as remitted or improved. According to a meta-analytic procedure described by R. Rosenthal (1991) the studies do not differ significantly with regard to the patients that were judged as remitted or improved after treatment with STPP or CBT/BT. The mean difference between STPP and CBT/BT concerning the number of patients that were judged as remitted or improved corresponds to a small effect size (post-assessment: phi = 0.08, follow-up assessment: phi = 0.12). Thus, STPP and CBT/BT seem to be equally effective methods in the treatment of depression. However, because of the small number of studies which met the inclusion criteria, this result can only be preliminary. Furthermore, it applies only to the specific forms of STPP that were examined in the selected studies and cannot be generalized to other forms of STPP. Further studies are needed to examine the effects of specific forms of STPP in both controlled and naturalistic settings. Furthermore, there are findings indicating that 16-20 sessions of both STPP and CBT/BT are insufficient for most patients to achieve lasting remission. Future studies should address the effects of longer treatments of depression.

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Authors
Leichsenring, F.
Affiliations
University of Göttingen (DE)
Corresponding author
Leichsenring, Falk
ORCID
Leichsenring, Falk
Venue
Clinical Psychology Review
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2001-04
Volume
21
Issue
3
Pages
401-419
ISSN
0272-7358 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0272-7358(99)00057-4
OpenAlex
W1713240235
Cited by
281
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 23
FWCI
6.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Clinical Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • GRO (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
short-term dynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, behavior therapy, depression, treatment efficacy, depressive symptoms, remission, social functioning, psychotherapy comparison
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychotherapy, Recurrence, Time Factors, Reproducibility of Results, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome

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