[What is supportive psychotherapy?].

Although supportive psychotherapy is of great importance in psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, supportive treatment strategies have not been paid much attention so far in literature and training. Clinical indication criteria for supportive techniques are: lack of treatment motivation and introspection, impairment of object relations and impulse control, inadequate modulation of affect and difficulties in establishing a therapeutic working alliance. After reviewing the principles of supportive psychotherapy, special aspects of supportive treatment techniques are discussed.