Does Psychoanalysis Work For Anxiety & Depression?

Question

Does psychoanalysis (the Freudian method) work at all for depression and anxiety? I think that I have been anxious and depressed since I was a young adolescent and so I think that the cause of my present day mental illnesses is likely buried somewhere in my childhood – but I can’t figure out what it might be.

Stephanie Adams · Accepted Answer

Hmm, that's a difficult question to answer. Results vary, but it seems like other therapies work faster, and psychoanalysis may be more effective after five years. In my experience, the main predictor of therapy outcome is in YOU, the client. So if you believe it has something to offer you, it most likely does! On the other hand, psychoanalytic practitioners are harder to find, and long-term therapy is extremely expensive and not usually covered by insurance.

I'd recommend calling a local expert in psychoanalysis and asking him or her what results they've seen for clients with depression and anxiety, then evaluate for yourself whether it's the right approach for you. And don't give up! The answer is out there.

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