Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Techniques, Efficacy, and Indications

In this article, we provide an overview of the techniques and efficacy of the two most commonly used psychotherapeutic treatments of psychiatric disorders in adults: cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic therapy. Psychotherapeutic techniques, major indications, and empirical evidence will be presented. The focus will be on empirically supported models of treatment.

Context: Cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are the most frequently applied methods of psychotherapy in clinical practice.

Objective: To give an up-to-date description of cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy and to review empirical evidence for efficacy in specific mental disorders.

Data Sources: Systematic reviews of psychotherapy outcome research based on evidence-based methods were used. In order to identify more recent trials, Medline, PsycInfo, Pubmed, and Current Contents were searched in addition in July 2005 using database-specific keywords. In October 2005, the search was updated. Text books and journal articles were used as well.

Study selection: The authors reviewed the available systematic surveys