Psychodynamic and Supportive Psychotherapy

Patients with mood disorders often can benefit from psychotherapy, whether as a primary treatment for depression or as an adjunct to medications or other biological treatments. Today, therapeutic approaches such as cognitive–behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy are commonly thought of as first-line evidence-based treatments of depression, yet there is also evidence that psychodynamic psychotherapy (PDT) and supportive psychotherapy (SPT) can be effective treatments of depression. Both PDT and SPT are commonly used in clinical practice, by a wide range of clinicians and in many different settings. This chapter describes the theoretical background of each of these therapies, therapeutic techniques, how they can be adapted for treatment of depression, and patient populations for which they may be indicated.