Evaluating psychodynamic approach

Question 1

Conduct a study to compare approaches to therapy with what methods?

Answer 1

Randomised controlled trials
experimenter takes the sample and divides them into two groups, intervention and control. Uses statistical analysis to compare outcomes of the sample.

Question 2

Evidence suggesting psychotherapy is effective.

Answer 2

Smith and Glass found the those in therapy are better off than 75%of untreated clients. But no difference between therapy types

Question 3

Evidence suggesting psychodynamic therapy works

Answer 3

limited evidence

Wampold (2001) - differences between therapies is small

Question 4

Different therapies working specifically for specific disorders.

Answer 4

Evidence based treatments:

• assumes that we can classify mental disorders separately
• ensures therapy offered has been shown to work.

Question 5

Evidence based treatments - anorexia nervosa

Answer 5

Dare et al. (2001)
compared focal short term psychodynamic therapy with other therapies.
Some evidence of STPP with 1/3 individuals no longer meeting criteria vs only 5% people with routine treatment

however success of treatment is specific to individual and situation - not replicable.

Question 6

Evidence based treatment - depression

Answer 6

Leichsenring (2001)

Compared psychodynamic to CBT - found psychodynamic to be effective but no difference in outcomes with CBT