Short-term dynamic psychotherapy. II. Prognostic value of characteristics of patients studied by a 2-year follow-up of 39 neurotic patients.

39 out-patients, 19 men and 20 women with a neurotic personality structure, evaluated by at least 2 therapists, were treated with short-term dynamic psychotherapy. 33 patients were followed up 2 years after the end of treatment with a semi-structured, problem-oriented interview, scored by 3 therapists according to a follow-up form developed for the study. Sufficient reliability was demonstrated for the follow-up form. 11 of 36 patients (31%), followed up 2 years after the end of treatment, obtained a high score on the dynamic result variable, and 24 (67%) on symptom relief. It could be established that these changes were mostly due to the therapy given. Variables pertaining patients' ability to relate to another person correlated with outcome. This is consistent with what Malan found in his two studies.