Articles

The Institute Of Medicine (IOM) Sets A Framework For Evidence-based Standards For Psychotherapy

Weissman, Myrna M.

To say psychotherapy is experiencing an identity crisis is an understatement. The demand for psychotherapy training of health professionals in developing counties to deal with the aftermath of refugees, natural disasters, and civil wars is increasing. A premier basic science English journal Nature published an editorial entitled “Therapy Deficit: Studies to Enhance Psychological treatments are Scandalously Under-Supported” noting the funding disparities between psychotherapy and medication. A recent meta-analysis covering 34 studies and over 90,000 participants found a threefold higher patient preference for psychotherapy over pharmacotherapy for the treatment of psychiatric problems. There are an increasing number of evidence-based psychotherapies (EBP) whose procedures have been defined in manuals and efficacy established in controlled clinical trials alone, in comparison or in combination with pharmacotherapy. These studies show that EBP are at least as effective as medication for some disorders. Psychotherapy is useful as an alternative or adjunct to medication for patients with comorbid medical conditions, or to address psychosocial problems that impact adherence to medical treatment or hasten recovery from serious mental and substance use disorders by providing social supports.

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Also Published In

Title
Depression and Anxiety
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22434

More About This Work

Academic Units
Epidemiology
Psychiatry
Published Here
February 1, 2022