A Short-term Psychodynamic Supportive Psychotherapy for Adolescents with Depressive Disorders: A New Approach

ABSTRACT

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in both adolescents and adults. In this article, we introduce Short-term Psychodynamic Supportive Psychotherapy (SPSP) for adolescents, a relatively new form of psychodynamic therapy for depression that has been studied in a range of randomized controlled trials with adult patients. SPSP emphasizes the relational aetiology and significance of depression and is characterized by a supportive attitude which focuses more on working in the here-and-now relational patterns rather than interpreting transference manifestations. The supportive attitude of the therapist is advocated to engage the adolescent in the therapeutic relationship and to foster his or her innate developmental capacities by attending to previously unaddressed developmental needs. The developmental perspective’s interest in defense styles and stagnation resulting from problems in past and current relationships opens up opportunities for acquiring insight and change. The focus on relational functioning makes it a promising approach for adolescents because they can implement any positive change immediately in their actual environment, immersed as they are in many new and varied relationships.

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Notes on contributors

Linda Dil

Linda Dil, M.D., is child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and Head at Arkin NPI Centre for personality pathology in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Jack Dekker

Jack Dekker, Ph.D., is Professor of Clinical Psychology at VU University Amsterdam and Head of the Research Department at Arkin Mental Health Institute in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Rien Van

Rien Van, M.D., Ph.D., is Medical Director at Arkin NPI Centre for personality pathology in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Frans Schalkwijk

Frans Schalkwijk, Ph.D., is a psychoanalyst-psychotherapist working in private practice.