Clinical considerations in the prescription of group, brief, long-term, and couples psychotherapy.

Differential clinical considerations for treatment prescription as an aspect of outpatient evaluation for psychotherapy is presented in overview. The indications and contraindications presented for each of the treatment modalities of group therapy, brief therapy, long-term therapy and couples therapy are based on psychotherapy evaluation, selection criteria and outcome research to date. The information and fund of knowledge of the psychiatrist about appropriate treatment prescription matched to the patient, his problems, and his motivation to work psychotherapeutically is an essential aspect of the initial evaluation.