What Makes Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Work? A Review of Five Perspectives

ABSTRACT

We review and comment on five articles included in this special issue of Psychoanalytic Inquiry. Each article addresses potential moderators and mechanisms of change within psychodynamic psychotherapy. We briefly present the questions we find most relevant in assessing the research on the mechanisms of change discussed in each of these articles. We discuss conceptual and methodological advances and strengths of these articles. Last, we propose directions for future research in this rich field to, first, best serve our patients and, second, for dynamic therapy to stay a vital treatment option in the current climate of evidence-based treatments.

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Notes on contributors

Mary V. Minges

Mary V. Minges, M.A., is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate at Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University.

Nili Solomonov

Nili Solomonov, M.A., is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate, at Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University.

Jacques P. Barber

Jacques P. Barber, Ph.D., is Dean and Professor at Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University.