[Evidence to support psychodynamic psychotherapy]

Abstract

In general, psychodynamic psychotherapy is not considered evidence-based treatment. This review includes recent meta-analyses and review papers. We conclude that evidence in favour of psychodynamic psychotherapy exists for unipolar depression, panic anxiety with and without agoraphobia, social phobia, generalised anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. For complex mental conditions, long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy shows greater effect than no treatment, standard treatment and short-term psychotherapy. Psychodynamic psychotherapy can be recommended for treatment of specific psychiatric disorders.