Integration and clinical demonstration of active ingredients of short-term psychodynamic therapy for depression

Psychodynamic therapy for depression has received considerable empirical support in recent years, and can presently be designated as efficacious (Leichsenring, Leweke, Klein, & Steinert, 2015). Although psychodynamic theory and therapy are widely used in clinical practice, empirically supported protocols of psychodynamic therapy are still not prevalent in everyday clinical work. Until recently, no systematic attempt has been made to integrate the central elements of different dynamic manuals with central dynamic theories and research. In this article we integrate the active ingredients of different psychodynamic therapies, combining central principles of such theories as that of Kohut with manualized treatments, such as the Supportive-Expressive Treatment, Brief Relational Therapy, Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy, and Dynamic Supportive Psychotherapy. Two evidence-supported concepts were used to integrate various active ingredients from psychodynamic treatment: Therapeutic alliance and the Core Conflictual Relational Themes (CCRT) method. Three clinical case studies demonstrate the most important active elements of this integrative psychodynamic therapy.