Can new approaches to synthesising evidence help achieve a consensus in psychotherapy research?

Abstract

The recent debate around the College's Clinical Practice Guidelines on mood disorders have highlighted differences in opinion on interpreting evidence from randomised control trials (RCTs) for psychodynamic psychotherapy. This paper discusses new techniques of synthesising research evidence (e.g., umbrella reviews) that may help minimise disagreements in the interpretation of RCTs and foster greater consensus on treatment guidelines. Findings from the latest umbrella review suggest that psychodynamic therapy is an evidence-based approach, among several, for common mental disorders.