Short-term dynamic psychotherapy. IV. Comparison of recorded changes in 33 neurotic patients 2 and 5 years after end of treatment

Changes for 33 neurotic patients treated with short-term dynamic psychotherapy were compared as measured at 2 and 5 years after end of treatment. There were changes both in symptoms and in degree of insight as measured by a dynamic variable between the two follow-up points. Some of these changes could be due to spontaneous remission and further therapy, but this could not explain all changes. Dynamic changes measured at 2-year follow-up persisted throughout the whole follow-up period. Some patients with mere symptom relief at 2-year follow-up got their symptoms back while others changed dynamically. Thus effect of short-term dynamic psychotherapy may occur even after 2 years after the end of treatment.