Citation

Abbass AA. Depress. Anxiety 2006; 23(7): 449-452.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. allan.abbass@dal.ca

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/da.20203

PMID

16845654

Abstract

This pilot study examined the effectiveness of Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Ten patients with TRD were provided a course of ISTDP. Clinician and patient symptom and interpersonal measures were completed every 4 weeks, at termination, and in follow-up. Medication, disability, and hospital costs were compared before and after treatment. After an average of 13.6 sessions of therapy, all mean measures reached the normal range, with effect sizes ranging from 0.87 to 3.3. Gains were maintained in follow-up assessments. Treatment costs were offset by cost reductions elsewhere in the system. This open study suggests that ISTDP may be effective with this challenging patient group. A randomized, controlled trial and qualitative research are warranted to evaluate this treatment further and to examine its possible therapeutic elements.

Language: en