Negative affect and somatization are closely linked to symptoms of neurotic disorders. Negative affect consist of different negative emotions e.g. anxiety and hostility.

The study included a total of 52 inpatients of the day care clinic, 13 men and 39 women, aged 20-56 years. They suffered from neurotic, somatoform and personality disorders. All the patients participated in the group psychodynamic psychotherapy. The therapy lasted 12 weeks, there were 2 sessions of 1.5 hour every working day. The patients were examined before, immediately after and 3 months after the therapy. Negative affect, somatization and general psychological distress were assessed with SCL-90-R, GHQ-30 and PSE (a part of SCAN 2.0) questionnaires.

Mean values of anxiety and depressive symptoms, somatic symptoms and general psychological distress changed in like manner. They dropped of about 1/3 of initial value during the therapy and then stayed stable for 3 months after the therapy. Differences between first and second as well as third assessment were statistically significant whereas between second and third assessment were not. A pattern of change in hostility (SCL-90-R subscale) was different. Mean value of hostility did not change significantly during the therapy and then dropped significantly 3 months later.

Anxiety and hostility could be triggered separately and it is important to assess them both in terms of improvement. Short psychodynamic group psychotherapy is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression and somatization, but not effective in reducing hostility assessed 3 months afterwards.