Psychological predictors on the outcome of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and solution-focused therapy in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorder.

OBJECTIVE

Patient's pre-treatment suitability for short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) and solution-focused therapy (SFT) has not been compared. The aim of this study was to compare the prediction of psychological suitability measures on outcome of STPP vs. SFT.

METHOD

Altogether 198 patients with mood or anxiety disorder were randomized to STPP or SFT. A 7-item Suitability for Psychotherapy Scale (SPS) was assessed at baseline and a cumulative SPS score was formed. Psychiatric symptoms were measured using SCL-90-GSI at baseline and seven times during a 3-year follow-up.

RESULTS

The SPS score predicted the outcome of both short-term psychotherapies; for patients with a good score short-term therapies seemed beneficial, whereas for patients with a poor score they did not seem sufficient. There was no difference between STPP and SFT in the prediction of the SPS score.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological suitability measures may apparently be useful in the prediction of overall short-term psychotherapy outcomes.