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Clinical Trial
. 1998 Fall;7(4):261-71.

A randomized prospective study comparing supportive and dynamic therapies. Outcome and alliance

D J Hellerstein  1 , R N Rosenthal, H Pinsker, L W Samstag, J C Muran, A Winston
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

A randomized prospective study comparing supportive and dynamic therapies. Outcome and alliance

D J Hellerstein et al. J Psychother Pract Res. 1998 Fall.

Abstract

The authors report preliminary results of Brief Supportive Psychotherapy (BSP) in the Beth Israel Brief Psychotherapy Program for a sample with primarily Cluster C Axis II disorders. This study compares 24 patients treated with BSP with 25 patients treated with Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (STDP). STDP was chosen because its confrontational methods contrast dramatically to BSP, which emphasizes building self-esteem, reducing anxiety, and enhancing coping mechanisms. Videotaped therapies were based on manualized 40-session protocols. Similar degrees of improvement were seen in BSP and STDP at termination and at 6-month follow-up. A study of therapeutic alliance in BSP showed stable and high levels of alliance in good-outcome cases and more variability in poor-outcome cases. These preliminary findings are consistent with other studies and suggest supportive psychotherapy may be effective for many patients, leading to significant and lasting change.

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