Models Of Brief Psychotherapy Research Articles

The Relevance of Ferenczi in the Integrated Model of Brief Psychotherapy

This paper presents Sandor Ferenczi’s contributions to Short-Term Psychotherapy in general, specifically concretized in the Integrated ShortTerm Psychotherapy Model that has been developed at the SPPB (Portuguese Society of Brief Psichotherapy). Ferenczi’s proposal for the active participation of the therapist allows for a reformulation of the analytic framework, preventing the development of transfer neurosis and prioritizing the therapeutic relationship. The changes experienced and introduced by Ferenczi led to shifts in therapeutic work that remain relevant even today. We refer to the brevity of the therapeutic process, the focus on clients' needs, the interaction between patient and analyst, and the constant search for modifications to technique as ways to overcome therapeutic impasses and address patients' needs. The resonance of his clinical work is particularly evident in the therapeutic interventions, notably in the construction and development of the Therapeutic Alliance (TA). In summary, Ferenczi introduced a new level of therapeutic engagement within the inter-personal/inter-human sphere, relating to ethical issues and implications for the therapist’s personal requirements and training.

Long-term effectiveness of two models of brief psychotherapy for depression: A three-year follow-up randomized clinical trial

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disease that severely impairs psychosocial functioning and decreases the subject's quality of life. Patients who received psychotherapy have a better long-term therapeutic response than those who have only been treated with antidepressants or have not been treated. There are few studies in the literature that follow the outcomes of psychotherapeutic treatments for depression for more than two years. The aim of this study is to compare the therapeutic response of two models of brief psychotherapy for MDD treatment (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Short-term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy) with naturalistic controls who received treatment as usual in a three-year follow-up. This is a sample of 75 outpatients, mostly women (82.7%), with a median age of 33 (27–44). The interventions took place in 50-minute sessions once a week for 14 to 16 weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and three years after the intervention. Regarding depressive symptoms, the therapeutic response was maintained three years after the conclusion of the brief models of psychotherapy. Functional capacity long-term maintenance depended not only on the intervention but also on the education level, the work situation and the severity of depressive symptoms at the beginning of the treatment.

Effects of cognitive psychotherapy on the biological rhythm of patients with depression

BackgroundStability between internal and external biological regulators are essential to stable mood states. However, the literature needs studies investigating the effect of brief psychotherapies in the biological rhythm regularization. ObjectiveTo verify the capacity regulation of biological rhythms in two models of brief psychotherapy for the remission of depressive symptoms. MethodsWe conducted a randomized clinical trial with young adults aged 18–29 years old who met diagnostic criteria for depression according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID). In order to evaluate the biological rhythm the Biological Rhythm of assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) interview was used; whereas the severity of depression was assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). The psychotherapy models consisted of two cognitive psychotherapies: Cognitive Narrative Therapy (CNT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). ResultsThe sample consisted of 97 randomized into two models of brief psychotherapy. The patients regulated the biological rhythm from baseline to post-intervention (p=.001) and follow up (p=.003). We also found a positive moderate correlation between biological rhythm regularization and remission of the depressive symptoms (r=.594; p<.001). ConclusionThe two models of brief psychotherapies were effective in the remission of depressive symptoms as well as the regulation of biological rhythms in the follow-up of 6 months. LimitationsWe did not assess genetic, hormonal and neurochemical factors. Also, we did not include patients in pharmaceutical treatment, and with severe symptomatology.

Toward an Integrated Brief Psychotherapy

The authors argue for an integrated model of brief psychotherapy that includes psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavioral approaches, as well as pharmacotherapy when necessary. The use of such a model gives the clinician the opportunity to tailor the treatment to the individual patient using differential therapeutics. In implementing a differential therapeutic approach, dynamic psychotherapy can be conceptualized using a health-sickness or psychopathology continuum, which is then superimposed upon a psychotherapy continuum ranging from expressive to supportive interventions. The use of such a psychotherapy continuum helps clinicians tailor the treatment approach to the specific patient. The authors first review psychotherapy outcome studies from the last two decades that suggest that an integrated approach may be advantageous. They then present findings from process studies that highlight the importance of the patient/therapist relationship. In the final sections of the article, the authors discuss how to use an integrated approach to brief psychotherapy, including the use of medication when appropriate. The authors also discuss the use of trial therapy during the initial session to help the therapist determine whether a supportive or expressive approach will be most appropriate for the individual patient and present two case vignettes illustrating the expressive and supportive approaches to trial therapy.

Introducing solution-focused approaches to staff in inpatient psychiatric settings

The authors describe several approaches to introducing solution-focused ideas to inpatient psychiatric nursing staff and psychiatric nursing students. The approach is intended to show the basic values of this approach in the process of helping participants become acquainted with concepts central to newer models of brief psychotherapy. The format uses humor, small group experiential case examples along with didactic approaches to facilitate new ways of thinking congruent with new models of therapy.

Brief Psychotherapy in Two-Plus-One Sessions with a Young Offender Population

This study represents an attempt to evaluate Barkham and Shapiro's (1988) two-plus-one model of brief psychotherapy with a young offender population as a way of significantly improving service delivery for clinical teams working in prisons. Brief cognitive-behavioural interventions were administered to young offenders referred for problems with depression, alcohol and anger whilst in custody. Significant treatment effects were found at the time of follow-up, suggesting that the interventions significantly accelerated improvement in these problem areas. It is suggested that the two-plus-one model is both an appropriate and effective model of service delivery in working with this client group.

Time-limited Psychotherapy with Children: Central Theme and Time as Major Tools

While there has been a dramatic expansion in both interest and application of various models of brief psychotherapy with adults, limited attention has been paid to the use of this treatment modality with children. This paper sets forth a suggested framework for shortterm psychotherapy with latency-aged children that extends James Mann's time-limited approach, with special emphasis on selection and presentation of the central theme and its relationship to the child's experience of time. Development and formulation of a thematic focus in time-limited therapy is critical since it serves as an organizational tool for both the therapist and the child. Because children's conceptualization of time is variable and in a state of flux, specific technical modifications in contract-making and concretization of time are required to adapt the adult model to work with children.

Relationship between patients' in-process evaluations of therapy and psychotherapy outcome.

Investigated relationship between patients' session-by-session evaluations of brief psychotherapy and outcome. Twenty-eight patients were seen by six therapists for a mean of 10 sessions in a university health service setting. In addition to the session evaluations, which were administered at the conclusion of the second session and each session thereafter, a variety of dependent measures were administered pre and post. Factor analysis of these dependent measures yielded three factors, which were correlated with session evaluation scores. Results indicated that patients' in-process evaluations were correlated significantly and positively with some positive treatment outcome measures, especially achievement of patients' specified treatment goals, but only during initial and final phases of therapy. Results were interpreted as supportive of Mann's model of brief psychotherapy.