An Outcome Study of Primal Therapy

Abstract

13 patients who had primal therapy had a psychodynamic interview before treatment and at 2 years follow-up by independent evaluators. 10 patients had neurosis and 3 personality disorders according to DSM-Ill criteria. Of the 11 patients who stayed in treatment, 8 were definitively improved on all outcome variables. 1 patient had an affective psychosis triggered by the treatment. Success in primal therapy correlates with the psychological resources of the patient. The good results indicate that the systematic use of catharsis in psychotherapy should be explored further.