The efficiency of long-term psychotherapy

Long-term psychotherapy has been evaluated by a Health Council Committee as part of the analysis of the cost-effectiveness of medical services (the so-called “126 list”).

Research into the efficacy of long-term psychotherapy is scarce. Detailed investigations have, however, been carried out to determine whether forms of psychotherapy with a limited duration are efficacious, i.e. whether they have a therapeutic effect in an experimental setting. As a rule, this requires controlled research, which usually means that after randomization the treated group of patients are compared with a group of patients who have either received no treatment at all or else a different treatment. Because our knowledge about the natural course of psychiatric conditions is frequently inadequate, it is not usually possible to formulate any definitive conclusions with regard to the results of uncontrolled research.

Committee

Members of the Long-term Psychotherapy Working Group

• Dr RW Trijsburg, professor of psychotherapy; Erasmus University, Rotterdam, chairman
• Dr F Beenen, psychoanalyst; Netherlands Institute for Psychoanalysis, Amsterdam
• Dr R van Dyck, professor of psychiatry; Valeriuskliniek, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
• Dr L Hakkaart-Van Roijen, economist; Institute for Medical Technology Assessment (iMTA), Erasmus University, Rotterdam
• Dr RC van der Mast, psychiatrist; Mentrum, Amsterdam
• L de Nobel, clinical psychologist; Mental Health Board for North Holland-North, Heiloo
• Dr S Schagen, psychologist; University of Amsterdam
• Dr P Spinhoven, professor of clinical psychology; University of Leiden
• Dr RJ Takens, psychologist; Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
• Dr PA Bolhuis, Health Council of the Netherlands, secretary

Members of the Committee on Medical Technology Assessment

• Prof. JA Knottnerus, Vice-president of the Health Council, chairperson
• Dr GH Blijham, professor of internal medicine; University of Utrecht
• A Boer, Health Insurance Funds Council, Amstelveen, advisor
• Dr PMM Bossuyt, professor of clinical epidemiology; Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam
• Dr HR Büller, internist; Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam
• Dr J Dekker, professor of paramedic care; Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
• Dr MCH Donker, professor of policy and evaluation in mental health care; Erasmus University, Rotterdam
• Dr GL Engel, Association of University Hospitals, Utrecht, advisor
• Dr J Kievit, Professor of medical decision-making; University of Leiden
• Dr FFH Rutten, professor of health economy; Erasmus University, Rotterdam
• Dr GHM ten Velden, Health Council of the Netherlands, secretary