Current issues
The first results on the comparative effectiveness between short-term and long-term therapies are to be presented at international forum in the Society for Psychotherapy Research Congress in Edinburgh, in June 2006 (SPR). The presentations cover changes in psychiatric symptoms and interpersonal problems as well as suitability to therapies, and are based on three-year follow-up.
The intermediate report on the effectiveness of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and solution-focused therapy in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders was published in May 2004.
It was found that
- about 50% of the patients showed a treatment effect during the one-year follow-up.
- no notable differences in effectiveness were found between the 2 types of therapy.
Reporting schedule
- A report in English describing the methods used and the effectiveness of short-term therapies over a one-year follow-up period was published in May 2004.
- A report on the predictors of remission from depression has been finished and will be published in 2006.
- An advance report comparing the effectiveness of short-term and long-term therapies will be finished in 2006.
- A report (in Finnish, with English summary) describing the methods used in detail should be available in 2006.
- The main report comparing the effectiveness of short-term and long-term psychotherapy during a five-year follow-up is estimated to be published between 2007 and 2008.