Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adolescents in psychodynamic psychotherapy

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2026.1.47013

Keywords:

profile., adolescence, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, symptoms

Abstract

The study describes the sociodemographic and clinical profile of adolescents seeking psychotherapy at a school clinic in southern Brazil. A total of 636 case records of adolescents aged 12 to 18 were analyzed, with 51.6% being male and 48.4% female. A screening form, CBCL 6-18, and FACES III were used. Significant associations were found between gender and variables such as school performance, social competence, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and attention problems. Boys showed more difficulties in academic performance and social competence, while girls had higher rates of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms. The research suggests that girls are more prone to these symptoms, highlighting the need for more targeted interventions.

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Author Biographies

Priscila Gonçalves Manke, Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

She is a psychologist and a specialist in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents. She is a member of the Research Department at *Contemporâneo: Instituto de Psicanálise e Transdisciplinaridade* (Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity) in Porto Alegre, RS.

Júlia Camargo Contessa, Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

She is a psychologist, a specialist in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents, and holds a master’s degree in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). She is a member of the Research Department at Contemporâneo: Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity, in Porto Alegre, RS.

Jéssica Aronis Epsztein, Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

She is a psychologist, specializing in psychoanalytic psychotherapy for children and adolescents, as well as in relational psychoanalysis (psicanálise vincular). She is a member of the Research Department at Contemporâneo: Instituto de Psicanálise e Transdisciplinaridade in Porto Alegre, RS.

Maricéia Duarte Cossio, Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

She is a psychologist specializing in Psychological Assessment, Relational Psychoanalysis, and Neuropsychology. She serves as the coordinator of the Department of Addictive Disorders and as director of the specialization program in Psychological Assessment. She is also a member of the Research Department at Contemporâneo: Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity, in Porto Alegre, RS.

Tatiele Jacques Bossi, Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

She is a psychologist, holds a PhD in Psychology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), and is a specialist in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. She is a member of the Research Department at *Contemporâneo: Instituto de Psicanálise e Transdisciplinaridade* (Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity) in Porto Alegre, RS.

Fernanda M. Driemeier Schmidt, Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

She is a psychologist, holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), and is a specialist in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. She serves as a professor and supervisor at the Contemporâneo: Institute of Psychoanalysis and Transdisciplinarity (CIPT), and as director of the institution’s Department of Research, in Porto Alegre, RS.

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Published

2026-10-26

How to Cite

Gonçalves Manke, P., Camargo Contessa, J., Aronis Epsztein, J., Duarte Cossio, M., Jacques Bossi, T., & Driemeier Schmidt, F. M. (2026). Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adolescents in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Psico, 57(1), e47013. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2026.1.47013

Issue

Vol. 57 No. 1 (2026): Single Volume - Continuous flow

Section

Health Psychology

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Copyright (c) 2026 Priscila Gonçalves Manke, Júlia Camargo Contessa, Jéssica Aronis Epsztein, Maricéia Duarte Cossio, Tatiele Jacques Bossi, Fernanda M. Driemeier Schmidt

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