Researchers from the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland, examined "326 outpatients, of whom 84.7 percent had mood disorders, and 43.6 percent [had] anxiety disorders." Of this group, "128 patients were assigned to long-term psychodynamic therapy, 101 to short-term psychodynamic therapy, and 96 to solution-based therapy, with 42 discontinuing treatment prematurely."

The investigators found that "[d]uring the first year, short-term psychodynamic therapies were significantly more effective than long-term psychodynamic therapy, with comparative reductions on the four scales of 15 to 27 percent." But, after three years' follow-up, "long-term psychodynamic therapy was more effective,...with comparative reductions of 14 to 37 percent on the outcome measures." The authors noted "no significant differences between short-term psychodynamic therapy and solution-based therapy at any of the follow-up assessments."

Related Links:

- "Length of psychodynamic therapy predicts long-term outcomes," Liam Davenport, Medwire News, April 21, 2008.