The importance of conducting empirical research for the future of psychodynamics is presented in this excellent new volume. In <EM>Handbook of Evidence Based Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice, the editors provide evidence that supports this type of research for two primary reasons. The first reason concerns the current marginalization of psychodynamic work within the mental health field. Sound empirical research has the potential to affirm the important role that psychodynamic theory and treatment have in modern psychiatry and psychology. The second reason that research is crucial to the future of psychodynamic work concerns the role that systematic empirical investigations can have in developing and refining effective approaches to a variety of clinical problems. Empirical research functions as a check on subjectivity and theoretical alliances in on-going attempts to determine the approaches most helpful in working with patients clinically. <EM>Handbook of Evidence Based Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice brings together a panel of distinguished clinician-researchers who have been publishing their findings for decades. This important new book provides compelling evidence that psychodynamic psychotherapy is an effective treatment for many common psychological problems.
Raymond A. Levy l J. Stuart Ablon Editors Handbook of EvidenceBased Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice Foreword by Glen O. Gabbard Editors Raymond A. Levy Clinical Director Psychotherapy Research Program Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA 02114
[email protected] J. Stuart Ablon Director Psychotherapy Research Program Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA 02114
[email protected] Series Editor Jerrold F. Rosenbaum Chief of Psychiatry Massachusetts General Hospital Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02114 ISBN: 978-1-934115-11-4 e-ISBN: 978-1-59745-444-5 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-444-5 Library of Congress Control Number: 2008933513 # 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer ScienceþBusiness Media, LLC All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Humana Press, c/o Springer ScienceþBusiness Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of going to press, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Cover images provided by Raymond A. Levy, Psy.D. Printed on acid-free paper 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 springer.com Foreword There can be little doubt that psychoanalysis and the psychodynamic therapies that arise from it are currently in a beleaguered state. The