The purpose of this paper is to review and critique the literature on Luborsky's contributions to process and outcome research on dynamic psychotherapy. Luborsky focused on the following key curative factors: (1) helping alliance; (2) transference; (3) transference interpretations; (4) psychiatric severity; and (5) self-understanding. His major contribution to the field has been the development of measures designed to assess these curative factors. The focus of this paper is on the development and application of the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method (CCRT). Results indicate a positive relationship between helping alliance and outcome; between accuracy of interpretations and helping alliance; between change in responses of the self and outcome; and a negative relationship between psychiatric severity and outcome. (Author)