SynthesisClinical psychology & psychotherapy
Predictors of Treatment Success of Psychotherapy in Functional Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature.
Synthesis in Clinical psychology & psychotherapy. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A systematic review of brain stimulation in functional seizures.BMC neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy of a mechanism-based psychological intervention for persistent gastrointestinal symptoms in ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome: results of a three-arm randomised controlled trial (SOMA.GUT-RCT).EClinicalMedicine · 2025Article
- Healthcare use and costs of functional somatic disorder in Denmark: a population-based cohort study (DanFunD).BMJ public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveFunctional disorders (FDs) benefit from psychotherapy. However, the determinants predicting their efficacy remain largely unexplored.
methodsA systematic literature review was conducted. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane collaboration and grey literature were screened from inception to November 2024. Randomized controlled trials on predictors of success of psychotherapy for FDs (e.g., somatoform disorders, irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis [CFS/ME], fibromyalgia [FM]) in adults (i.e., ≥ 18 years of age) were included. The review yielded 24 eligible studies and included 3382 participants. A standardized quality assessment via ROB-2 Tool was performed. PRISMA guidelines were followed.
resultsMost studies applied CBT-based interventions (n = 19), mainly face-to-face, with some internet-based (n = 5), while fewer used emotional-based (n = 4), mindfulness-based (n = 3), psychodynamic (n = 1) or operant behavioural therapy (n = 1). The primary factors identified as predictive of treatment success in FM and somatization were the intensity of experienced pain. Moreover, the presence of mental disorders, i.e., depression and anxiety disorders, emerged as predictors for a range of disorders including FM, IBS, somatization disorder, hypochondriasis, medically unexplained symptoms and dissociative seizures. Symptom severity was recognized as a predictor across various FDs with findings indicated that severe severity could predict treatment outcomes.
conclusionThe body of research concerning predictors of treatment success in the context of FDs can help clinicians identifying appropriate psychotherapy trajectories.
trial registrationNot applicable. PROSPERO no. CRD42022379791; OSF (https://osf.io/8q7z9).
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