Therapeutic factors in dysphoric disorders

The working group on the treatment of dysphoric disorders focused on ways to integrate variables and qualities that optimize treatment effects for this clinical population. The variables examined represent three aspects or domains of the treatment context that effect positive change. These included aspects of the patient and therapist (participant factors), those relating to the development and role of the therapeutic relationship (relationship factors), and those that defined the application of formal interventions that are implemented by the therapist (techniques factors). The treatment literature on dysphoric populations was reviewed and a variety of relationships was identified, which then were translated into principles that are thought to enhance treatment effects. The principles representing the three domains of this review are then collected, in this article, into a set of cohesive suggestions for treating patients whose problems are characterized by major or minor depression, alone or as a comorbid condition.