Psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adolescents: an old friend revisited.

The treatment of children and adolescents with psychotherapy is gradually losing ground to psychopharmacology. The author reviews the value the various forms of psychotherapy have in the treatment of children and the importance of having a clear curriculum for teaching this skill in residency programs. Although the importance of psychodynamic psychotherapy has a long history in the treatment of children, the reluctance some faculty have in recommending this form of therapy may be due to limited experience and limited knowledge of its benefits. The author highlights that a psychodynamic diagnostic evaluation is essential to assess a child's suitability for psychotherapy. The characteristics of children who will benefit from psychodynamic psychotherapy, their defense mechanisms, and optimal characteristics of their parents are reviewed. The qualifications a psychiatrist needs to succeed in this endeavor are discussed. Two cases illustrate not only the importance in the suitability of the patient, but also the application of psychodynamic theory to practice.