Psychotherapy Indications and Outcomes - 9780880487610

A combination of scientifically-driven techniques and an art incorporating creativity, intuitiveness, and empathy, psychotherapy is well worth celebrating, refining, and expanding. But just as scientific study of psychotherapy is demonstrating how very effective it is, economic, political, and social pressures are undercutting the profession's ability to offer effective treatment. It is more crucial than ever for practitioners to understand the dynamics that affect outcomes.

Psychotherapy Indications, Outcomes, and Mechanisms reviews the current status of psychotherapy, in the 1990's, with attention to the existing evidence of its efficacy and underlying mechanisms that appear related to positive and negative outcomes. The book is an up-to-date compendium of research by esteemed leaders in the field of psychotherapy investigation.

This volume presents the characteristicsinterpersonal, patient, therapist, and underlying personalitythat determine psychotherapeutic outcome; describes the nature, theory, and efficacy of dialectical behavioral therapy in treating borderline personality disorder; and explores interpersonal therapy.

The book elaborates on an effective group therapy model for the treatment of cancer and medical illness sufferers. It evaluates family therapy in general and in the treatment of psychotic patients. It focuses on methodological considerations in psychotherapy and psychopharmacological research. It illuminates the relationship of psychotherapy to managed care and offers important perspectives on psychotherapy's survival in these current difficult times.

This book provides a clear view of the scientific basis underlying psychotherapy practice and research. Complete with extensive references and illustrative tables and graphs, it will be an invaluable source of information to practitioners.