Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Systematic Qualitative Review of Controlled Outcome Studies
Abstract
Objective: We review all available controlled outcome studies of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) to evaluate evidence of its effectiveness. Method: Forty-three studies were located and key data abstracted on problem, setting, SFBT intervention, design characteristics, and outcomes. Results: Thirty-two (74%) of the studies reported significant positive benefit from SFBT; 10 (23%) reported positive trends. The strongest evidence of effectiveness came in the treatment of depression in adults where four separate studies found SFBT to be comparable to well-established alternative treatments. Three studies examined length of treatment and all found SFBT used fewer sessions than alternative therapies. Conclusion: The studies reviewed provide strong evidence that SFBT is an effective treatment for a wide variety of behavioral and psychological outcomes and, in addition, it may be briefer and therefore less costly than alternative approaches.
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A recent systematic review of SFBT found that 74% of studies reported significant positive behavioural and psychological outcomes and 23% reported positive trends.
“a recent systematic review of SFBT found that 74% of studies reported significant positive behavioural and psychological outcomes and 23% reported positive trends.10”
From New approaches towards chronic pain: Patient experiences of a solution-focused pain management programme (2014) · cites this paper as [10]
Studies which examined length of treatment all found that SFBT used fewer treatment sessions than comparative interventions.
“Studies which examined length of treatment all found that SFBT used fewer treatment sessions than comparative interventions, and the strongest evidence of effectiveness was found in the treatment of depression.”
From New approaches towards chronic pain: Patient experiences of a solution-focused pain management programme (2014) · cites this paper as [10]
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- Authors
- Gingerich, W. J., & Peterson, L. T.
- Affiliations
- Case Western Reserve University (US)
- St. Catherine University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gingerich, Wallace J.
- ORCID
- Peterson, Lance T.
- Venue
- Research on Social Work Practice
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-01-27
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 266-283
- ISSN
- 1049-7315 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7581
- OpenAlex
- W2103273040
- Cited by
- 275
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 9
- FWCI
- 22.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Research on Social Work Practice (publishedVersion)
- UST Research Online (University of St. Thomas - Minnesota) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Keywords
- solution-focused therapy, psychotherapy effectiveness, depression treatment, brief psychotherapy, treatment duration, cost-effectiveness, psychological outcomes, behavioral effects
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