Categorical or dimensional? Differentiation of treatment techniques in short and long-term psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapies

Abstract

In the field of psychoanalysis (PA) there is still a preference for categorical differentiation between psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy. Today, the ‘Psychotherapy Process Q-set’ (PQS) method allows these differentiations to acquire a dimensional perspective. The aim was to compare 13 psychoanalyses (PA), 15 long-term and 30 short-term psychodynamic psychotherapies (LTDP; STDP). For each of the treatments, therapy sessions were selected and analyzed with the PQS. The three therapy samples were described and compared as a whole and at different points of therapeutic process. Special attention was given to the usage of therapeutic techniques. With the PQS prototype methodology, PA process was fostered in these treatments. This study used a considerably large database for this field. Overall, more similarities then differences between PA, STDP and LTDP were found. Common aspects of therapy characterized the three types of therapy. Nevertheless, on a dimensional perspective, nuances differentiated the samples. Not only general therapy techniques were similarly applied in all samples, but also techniques with a specific PA background, as interpretation. Striking was the amount of psychoanalytic techniques applied in the STDP sample. Fewer differences could be found between PA and LTDP. Surprising results derived from the sample correlations with the PQS prototype: The PA sample showed the lowest correlation with the prototype. Consequently, the accuracy of the PQS prototype methodology is discussed while asking "what is prototypical?". Several methodological features regarding the PQS are also discussed. Finally, the study could show empirically more similarities among PA, STDP and LTDP than differences.