Psychoanalysis for Depression and Anxiety in the Long Run?

The effectiveness of psychoanalysis is less studied than that of other psychotherapies. These researchers randomized 326 outpatients with depressive or anxiety disorders (86% with mood disorders) to solution-focused therapy (SFT; every 2–3 weeks; maximum, 12 sessions), short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (SPP; 20 weekly sessions), or long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (LPP; 2–3 sessions weekly for 3 years). The investigators examined symptoms and ability to work for 5 years in these patients and in 41 patients self-selected and then screened for psychoanalysis (4 sessions weekly for 5 years).

Mean patient age was 32; 75% were women. Diagnoses included major depression (67%), anxiety disorders (43%), and personality disorders (18%). All…