Psychoanalytic Therapy

Excerpt

Psychoanalytic or psychodynamic psychotherapy is an umbrella term that describes the psychotherapeutic clinical application of a larger group of theories and principles stemming from psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis began as the work of Sigmund Freud and quickly expanded through the work of his contemporaries, including Sandor Ferenczi, Carl Jung, Otto Rank, and Alfred Adler. The term "psychoanalytic psychotherapy" is often used interchangeably with "psychodynamic psychotherapy," but these terms are distinguished from psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy use similar techniques, theories, and approaches to listening and understanding. Notable differences are intensity, frequency, and length of the treatment, whereas psychoanalysis is more intensive and of longer duration. In addition, the term "evidence-based psychotherapy" (EBP) is defined as psychotherapy that utilizes published findings to inform clinical decision-making.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is frequently considered the prime exemplar of EBP, and psychodynamic psychotherapy has been historically excluded from this list of EBPs. Recent literature, however, has suggested that this distinction may be outdated and inaccurate, as emerging research on psychodynamic psychotherapies has demonstrated efficacy and effectiveness for various conditions.