ABSTRACT
Most people who are referred to NHS psychotherapy departments have multiple diagnoses, and are similar to patients who attend a psychiatric outpatient clinic. The most common presenting complaints of patients who seek psycho-dynamic psychotherapy are depression, anxiety and chronic or repeated relationship problems. Dynamic psychotherapy differs from psychiatry in that it is less interested in the diagnosis and more interested in the person's view of self and others. A psychodynamic formulation seeks to identify the meaning in the person's symptoms or behaviour. Why is this person having this symptom or why is he behaving in a particular way? Maintaining confidentiality shows respect for patient autonomy, allows the patient to feel safe, and enables the development of a trusting relationship. In the UK, adolescents are usually treated within the Child and Adolescent services, which generally include family therapy, psychodynamic therapy and cognitive therapy.
