Chronic depression and psychoanalytic psychotherapy research
depression, major depression, chronic depression, depressive symptoms
DISORDER, PAT
Chronic depression is a common disorder. Population lifetime prevalence estimates are 3–15% for major depression [Patients with chronic depression require tailored psychotherapeutic treatments that address their specific clinical needs [Only a small number of studies, however, have assessed the effectiveness of long-term therapies for chronic depression [The second was the LAC Study (Langzeitbehandlungen In contrast to the original hypotheses PAT produced a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms already after one year of treatment. In addition, three years after the start of treatment, significantly more patients in psychoanalytic treatment showed increased awareness of unconscious fantasies and conflicts, so-called “structural changes, in personality organization compared to patients in cognitive-behavioral treatments [