This review aimed to evaluate the economic impact of ISTDP to provide a quick reference for commissioners and decision-makers tasked with reducing healthcare costs. This article identifies evidence of substantial reductions in hospital, physician, medication and disability costs following ISTDP treatment in mental health and functional somatic conditions.

These results may be of specific interest to healthcare commissioners and service providers seeking clinically effective treatment in real world conditions who are also mandated to reduce costs and save money. Similarly, governing bodies at the federal or state level aiming to reduce financial social care burden and improve workforce productivity may also be interested in the outcome of this review.

This paper outlines the theoretical basis for ISTDP as a treatment option for patients with functional neurological disorder (FND) and reviews the existing research. It explores mechanisms of change and the potential role of maladaptive emotion processing for some people with FND. The application of ISTDP to FND is described and illustrated with direct therapy transcripts.

This review may be of interest to FND stakeholders looking for evidence-based psychlogical approaches as part of a multi-disciplinary network involved in the care and treatement of FND. It may also be of interest to individuals keen to understand the contemporary psychoanalytic approach to FND who are not familiar with how this field has developed over recent decades.

Functional somatic disorders (FSD) are a collection of conditions with distressing symptoms related to functional impairments in neurobiological systems. These are real physical disorders which for some people can be caused the way in which emotion is being processed. These conditions account for up to one-half of primary care visits and medical consultations.

This meta-analysis of 17 Randomised Controlled Trials found that short-term psychodynamic therapies (including ISTDP) significantly outperformed minimal treatment, treatment-as-usual and waitlist controls on somatic symptom reduction immediately following treatment and at follow-up. This supports the implementation of these models in the treatment of functional disorders.

Over the past three decades, researchers have studied the efficacy of ISTDP for a wide-range of mental health and physical health conditions, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and functional disorders. This review of 21 studies found that ISTDP led to significant improvements in symptoms which lasted over time and appear to be cost-effective.

This illustrates that ISTDP is an important option in mental health treatment and the treatment of physical health disorders where emotional processing is a contributing factor. This may be of interest to therapy training bodies and commissioners of healthcare services seeking to implement evidence-based therapy for patient populations with a wide-range of mental health needs.

Functional Disorders are common amongst neuropsychiatric and other medical specialisms. There are now over 50 publications evaluating ISTDP and its effect and processes in these disorders. This review reports on the theoretical basis, diagnostic process, treatment approach and evidence of effectiveness from this body of research.

This review found ISTDP to be efficacious in the treatment of functional somatic disorders, including chronic pain, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and FND. ISTDP was found to be more effective for chronic pain than CBT. Significant cost savings were found following ISTDP treatment. This supports the application of ISTDP in the assessment and treatment of functional disorders.

This paper explores over forty years of videotaped case-based research conducted by Dr. Habib Davanloo and the key techniques that were identified to unlock the unconscious mind. It outlines the central therapeutic process of ISTDP and charts the evolution of this approach over the last three decades.

This review may be of interest to clinicians, researchers, and mental health professionals seeking a deeper understanding of effective psychodynamic treatment methods. It provides a summary of the empirical support for ISTDP and highlights the key findings that have shaped its development as a powerful therapeutic intervention.

This article reviews a decade of research on the effectiveness of Experiential Dynamic Therapies (EDTs) including ISTDP. Meta-analyses of 57 randomized controlled trials show that EDTs outperform inactive or waiting list controls, and have better long-term outcomes than alternative mainstream therapies.

This article may be of particular interest to clinicians, researchers, commissioners, and policy decision-makers seeking evidence-based interventions for emotional regulation difficulties across diverse populations. The findings underscore EDTs’ sustained therapeutic effects across different diagnostic groups and settings, including both Western and non-Western contexts.

This paper presents a meta-analysis of studies examining the use of ISTDP in the treatment of chronic pain. Over 10 studies (including 6 RCTs) ISTDP showed large and lasting effects in reducing pain and depression, with additional benefits for anxiety and interpersonal functioning. Compared to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), ISTDP demonstrated superior outcomes in both short- and medium-term follow-ups.

This review may be of interest to clinicians, researchers, healthcare policymakers, and commissioners involved in developing treatment guidelines for chronic pain. The findings highlight ISTDP not only as an effective therapeutic option but also as a potentially cost-effective intervention, reducing healthcare utilization and disability-related expenses.

This paper marks the 15th anniversary of the structured training and delivery of ISTDP in Norway. It outlines its successful national implementation and integration into both private and public healthcare sectors, and the establishment of the Norwegian Institute for ISTDP. Key factors in its growth include alignment with postgraduate psychological training and official accreditation by the Norwegian Psychological Association.

This review may be of interest to mental health professionals, educators, policymakers, and international psychotherapy trainers seeking models of effective program implementation. It highlights how ISTDP has become a vital part of Norway’s therapeutic landscape and suggests that its continued expansion may shape global practices in evidence-based psychotherapy.