Short-term dynamic psychotherapy is rooted in psychoanalytic theory. The author traces the historical background of brief psychotherapy, focusing on the contributions of Freud, Ferenczi, Rank, and Alexander and French, and then presents a synthesis of contemporary views. Selection criteria for patients who can benefit from short-term therapy, and the techniques used, are discussed. Similarities to and differences from crisis intervention techniques are pointed out. The trend of the future can be expected to be toward shorter-term therapies, but given the present state of psychiatric knowledge, long-term therapy will still be necessary for many patients.