Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 2008; 2 : 59–63 Krzysztof Małyszczak, Tomasz Pawłowski, Adrian Sieradzki, Krystian Pyszel, Przemysław Pacan, Andrzej Kiejna: Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland; Correspondence address: Krzysztof Małyszczak; Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 10 Pasteura Str. 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; E-mail: durlik@life.pl The influence of psychodynamic psychotherapy on depressive symptoms – a follow up study. Krzysztof Małyszczak, Tomasz Pawłowski, Adrian Sieradzki, Krystian Pyszel, Przemysław Pacan, Andrzej Kiejna Summary aim. Assessment of change in severity of depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms in patients with neurotic and personality disorders treated with psychodynamic psychotherapy. Material and methods. From a total of 105 patients, 82 (78%) finished the study: 21 men and 61 women aged range from 19 to 67 years of age (mean 35.4 years old). Symptoms and diagnoses of the depres- sive episode (ICD-10) were assessed using the PSE (Present State Examination from SCAN 2.0) ques- tionnaire before, just after, and 1 year after the 12-week psychotherapy in a day hospital ward. Statistical analyses were based on a cluster analysis and the k-means clustering method. results. 39 persons (48%) were diagnosed with a depressive episode before treatment. After treatment, 24 patients (29%) still fulfilled the criteria, and after next 12 months the number of diagnoses of depres- sive episode dropped to 10 (12%). 70% of the patients demonstrated marked decrease of depressive symptoms. 47 patients (57%) who had high initial rates of GAD symptoms demonstrated a marked drop of ratings. Conclusion. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective in reducing depressive and GAD symptoms con- comitant with neurotic and personality disorders. psychotherapy / depression / generalized anxiety INTrODUCTION Symptoms of depression and generalized anx- iety are common components of many psychiat- ric disorders, even if they are not included into the diagnostic criteria. Comorbidity of depres- sive disorders and anxiety, as well as personality disorders is high. Individuals with personality disorders are prone to develop depressive disor- der under stress. Anxiety disorders themselves are the source of stress. If they are not transient, they lead to depressive states. Yet, on the other hand - anxiety symptoms and disorders rise sub- stantially during depressive mood disorders. Patients directed for psychotherapy in a day hospital ward usually have been made diag- noses of anxiety and personality disorders. It is not recommendable to treat mood disorders in such wards. Nevertheless, patients suffering from personality disorders and long lasting neu- rotic (anxiety) disorders resistant to pharmaco- logical treatment, commonly develop depressive states. Depressive symptoms make the treat- ment difficult; they worsen the clinical state of patients, interfere with treatment and make an outcome worse. A method of treatment aimed to treat resistant neurotic disorders ought to be ef- ficient at relieving depressive symptoms.