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Is psychodynamic psychotherapy still relevant? Researchers addressed this question in a meta-analysis of 17 randomized, controlled trials involving 2004 patients (mean age, 43) with disorders characterized by functional somatic complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain disorders.
The studies compared short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) with treatment as usual, waiting lists, or minimal treatment; some studies involved comparisons with other treatments. STPP included mainly manual-based therapies lasting an average of 14 sessions (range, 3–33) and involving individual or group face-to-face psychotherapy focusing on awareness and processing of emotionally laden material and conflict that often involv…