In this paper short-term dynamic psychotherapy (STAPP) is described briefly in terms of its selection criteria and technique, and the preliminary findings of an ongoing outcome study are presented. Of 22 experimental patients who were treated with STAPP, 14 were rated as ‘recovered’ by two evaluators, 4 were ‘much better’, 3 ‘little better’ and 1 was ‘unchanged’. Of 8 controls who waited a period of 2–5 months, 5 were ‘unchanged’ and 3 ‘a little better’ at the end of their waiting period. When they were treated subsequently, 4 had ‘recovered’, 2 were ‘much better’ and 2 withdrew having moved from the Boston area. The complexities inherent in psychotherapy evaluation are described, and the 3 patients who improved ‘a little’ and the 1 who was ‘unchanged’ are discussed briefly.
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