In a study published in the Oct. 1 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers reviewed "23 studies of such treatment involving 1,053 patients, [and] the researchers concluded that the therapy, given as often as three times a week, in many cases for more than a year, relieved symptoms of those problems significantly more than did some shorter-term therapies."

"In fact, the number of therapy sessions the patients had was directly correlated to improvements in symptoms," HealthDay (9/30, Gordon) noted.

WebMD (9/30, Wilbert) added that the study suggested "that patients with complex mental disorders who completed LTPP were better off than 96 percent of patients in comparison groups. Complex mental disorders included personality disorders, chronic mental disorders lasting at least a year, complex depressive or anxiety disorders, or those with two or more mental disorders."

In an accompanying editorial, JAMA's deputy editor, Richard M. Glass, M.D., "argues that LTPP is being used less these days, at least in part because it is not as cost-effective as medication with brief supportive visits." He wrote, "This trend appears to be strongly related to financial incentives and other pressures to minimize costs." The Los Angeles Times's (9/30, Roan) Booster Shots blog also covered the story.

Related Links:

- "Psychoanalytic Therapy Wins Backing," Benedict carey, New York Times, October 1, 2008.
- "Study Shows Greater Effectiveness for Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy," caroline wilbert, WebMD, September 30, 2008.