Oliver Burkeman has written in the Guardian a long, and gripping, article on the clash between Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and psychoanalysis.
Psychoanalysis has been declining over recent years, partly because of a lack of evidence of effectiveness. But this is now changing. The article draws on the recent Tavistock Depression Study which has shown extremely positive results for psychoanalysis.
After two years’ treatment, the results for CBT and psychoanalysis are similar. But, over time, the positive results of CBT diminish, while those from psychoanalysis increase. It could be that CBT treats the symptoms but psychoanalysis is getting to the causes of the problem.
