Abstract
The chapter focuses on the empirical research accumulating over the years on psychodynamic treatment (PDT), especially research published since the previous edition of this book. The chapter contains meta-analyses demonstrating the efficacy of PDT across mental health disorders (depressive, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders), and provides several examples of effective PDT implementations in the community. The chapter discusses the empirical literature on predictors and moderators of good prognosis and that on central mechanisms of change in PDT: alliance, insight, defense style and mechanisms, relationship rigidity, quality of object relations, and reflective functioning. We review the literature on the use of PDT techniques and their associations with treatment outcome. We end with clinical implications and directions for future research.