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Published Online: 25 February 2020

Psychotherapy Patients of Psychiatry Residents: A Descriptive Study

L. Rex Kay, M.D. [email protected], Tatjana Kay, B.Sc., Andrea Lawson, Ph.D., Meghan Hunter, B.A., and Paula Ravitz, M.D.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: American Journal of Psychotherapy
Volume 73, Number 2
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20190042
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Abstract

Objective:

Psychiatry residents learn psychodynamic psychotherapy for generalizable skills and as a transdiagnostic, long-term treatment indicated for patients with chronic mood, anxiety, or personality disorders. It is unknown how these indications align with actual patients of trainees. The aim of this descriptive study was to define characteristics of outpatients receiving psychodynamic psychotherapy from psychiatry residents.

Methods:

Case reports (N=204) from 184 psychiatry residents were analyzed for patients’ diagnoses and past treatments.

Results:

Eighty-six percent of patients had prior psychiatric medication or treatment, 31% had three or more past courses of psychotherapy, and 48% had two or more diagnoses, including depression (62%), anxiety (46%), and personality disorders or traits (27%).

Conclusions:

Patients receiving psychodynamic psychotherapy from psychiatry residents had multiple psychiatric illnesses and a history of prior treatments that had not achieved or sustained recovery, suggesting complex and chronic illness. Consistent with community-based findings, these patient characteristics correspond with psychodynamic psychotherapy treatment indications.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to American Journal of Psychotherapy
Go to American Journal of Psychotherapy
American Journal of Psychotherapy
Volume 73 • Number 2 • June 01, 2020
Pages: 63 - 66
PubMed: 32093484

History

Received: 25 September 2019
Revision received: 27 November 2019
Accepted: 9 January 2020
Published online: 25 February 2020
Published in print: June 01, 2020

Keywords

  1. Psychodynamic psychotherapy
  2. psychotherapy residency
  3. psychotherapy education

Authors

Affiliations

L. Rex Kay, M.D. [email protected]
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (L. R. Kay, Lawson, Ravitz); Department of Psychiatry, Sinai Health System, Toronto (L. R. Kay, T. Kay, Hunter, Ravitz).
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Tatjana Kay, B.Sc.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (L. R. Kay, Lawson, Ravitz); Department of Psychiatry, Sinai Health System, Toronto (L. R. Kay, T. Kay, Hunter, Ravitz).
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Andrea Lawson, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (L. R. Kay, Lawson, Ravitz); Department of Psychiatry, Sinai Health System, Toronto (L. R. Kay, T. Kay, Hunter, Ravitz).
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Meghan Hunter, B.A.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (L. R. Kay, Lawson, Ravitz); Department of Psychiatry, Sinai Health System, Toronto (L. R. Kay, T. Kay, Hunter, Ravitz).
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Paula Ravitz, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (L. R. Kay, Lawson, Ravitz); Department of Psychiatry, Sinai Health System, Toronto (L. R. Kay, T. Kay, Hunter, Ravitz).
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Notes

Send correspondence to Dr. Ravitz ([email protected]).
A preliminary analysis of this study was presented at a meeting of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, September 23, 2016, Toronto.

Funding Information

Dr. Ravitz receives royalties from W. W. Norton. The other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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