2.  Copy: few empirical studies compared to other treatments  Eysenck- reviewed 2 studies, incorporating waiting list controls, which showed that 66% of the control group improved spontaneously, compared to only 44% of the psychoanalysis patients- > concluding that psychoanalysis did not work!!  Bergin- reviewed the original data and found that the control groups were actually receiving some form of treatment- 1 of the control groups was hospitalized and the others were being treated by their GP.  He also found that selecting different outcome criteria, improvement in the psychoanalysis group rose to 83% and the control dropped to 30%.

3.  Driessen et al (2013) compared the efficacy of psychodynamic therapy with that of CBT.  341 adults who met the DSM-IV criteria for a major depression were randomly assigned to 16 sessions of CBT of short-term psychodynamic supportive therapy as outpatients.  Severely depressed patients also received antidepressant medication.  No statistically significant treatment differences were found after one year, although the average post- treatment remission rate was 22.7%.  Driessen concluded that 16 weeks is not enough to treat many patients, but that the findings extend the evidence base of psychodynamic therapy for depression.

4.  What does this tell us about psychodynamic therapies for depression?  Why may the findings of this study be considered internally valid?