Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
Brief Description
The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) program has been rated by the CEBC in the area of: Depression Treatment (Adult).
- Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
- Target Population: Adults with a broad range of disorders including personality disorders.
The basic ISTDP understanding of many psychological disorders is based on attachment and the emotional effects of broken attachments. Interruptions and trauma to human attachments may cause a cascade of complex emotions which may become blocked and avoided. When later life events stir up these feelings, anxiety and emotional defenses may be activated. These reactions may be totally unconscious to the person having them, and the result is ruined relationships, physical symptoms, and a range of psychiatric symptoms. A proportion of all patients with anxiety, depression, substance use, and interpersonal problems have this emotional blockage problem. ISTDP focuses on emotional awareness and the ability to feel these emotions in order to heal.
Essential Components
The treatment approach ISTDP as designed by Davanloo has these steps:
- To acquaint the patient with the unconscious processes that the patient uses to deal with difficult situations
- To help them to overcome the emotional blocking processes. This often means a focus on the feelings the patient has in the office during the moments of the interview and pointing out the ways the patient blocks off both the emotions and the connection with the therapist in treatment.
When these feelings are experienced there is an abrupt drop in tension, anxiety and other physical symptoms and defenses. Thus, the patient and therapist can then see the driving emotional forces that were being defended. Thereafter, a healing process may occur in which the old avoided feelings are experienced and worked through. Often one of these breakthroughs is enough to bring about major symptom improvement, while in most cases a series of these events are required to bring about major behavioral changes. If the patient has very low tolerance of anxiety, a treatment process in group or individual therapy may be required first to build this up before the emotions can be experienced.
At the end of a successful therapy, there is an absence of somatic anxiety and major defenses, so health and relationships are free to develop and persist as they were meant to before the original trauma.
This treatment and variants of it have been extensively researched and shown effective with some patients with depression, anxiety, somatization, substance abuse, eating disorders and personality problems.
Child Component
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) was not designed with a child component.
Parent / Caregiver Component
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:
- Broad range of disorders including personality disorders.
Group Format
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.
Recommended Parameters
Recommended Intensity:
1 hour weekly or 4 hours once per month.
Recommended Duration:
Average is 20 sessions.
Delivery Settings
This program is typically conducted in a(n):
- Community Agency
- Hospital
- Outpatient Clinic
Homework
This program does not include a homework component.
Languages
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) does not have materials available in a language other than English.
Resources Needed to Run Program
The typical resources for implementing the program are:
- Camera
- DVD player
- Television
- Room
Minimum Provider Qualifications
Moderate training including videotape supervision is required.
Education and Training Resources
There is not a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is training available for this program.
Training Contact:
- Allan Abbass
www.istdp.ca
phone: (902) 473-2514
Training is obtained:
Periodic immersion courses.
Number of days/hours:
5 days per year.
Additional Resources:
There currently are additional qualified resources for training:
Southern California Institute for ISTDP - www.istdp.com
Implementation Information
Since Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is highly rated on the Scientific Rating Scale, information was requested from the program representative on available pre-implementation assessments, implementation tools, and/or fidelity measures.
Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research
This program is rated a "2 - Supported by Research Evidence" on the Scientific Rating Scale based on the published, peer-reviewed research available. The practice must have at least one rigorous randomized controlled trial with a sustained effect of at least 6 months. Please see the Scientific Rating Scale for more information.
Child Welfare Outcome: Child/Family Well-Being
References
Davanloo, H. (2000). Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: Selected Papers of Habib Davanloo, MD. New York: Wiley.
Driessen, E., Cuijpers, P., de Maat, S. C. M., Abbass, A. A., de Jonghe, F., & Dekker, J. J. M. (in press). The efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review.
Contact Information
- Name: Danielle Haber, MD
- Agency/Affiliation: University of California - San Diego
- Website: www.istdp.com
- Email: drdhaber@gmail.com
- Phone: (858) 401-9922
- Fax: (858) 792-8333
Date Reviewed: March 2010