The article aims to answer the question of whether therapies derived from psychoanalysis, referred to as psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies, can be considered as so-called empirically supported treatments. The characteristics of therapies derived from psychoanalysis are first described, including common theoretical assumptions and characteristics of the therapeutic approach. Next, the criteria for empirically supported treatments, as outlined by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1995 (the first evaluation system, requiring two experimental studies) and 2015 (the current system, based on analysis of systematic reviews involving multiple experimental studies), are discussed. The importance of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the process of evaluating the efficacy of psychological interventions is also described. Taking the current APA evaluation system as a frame of reference, the article presents recent research on the effectiveness of therapies derived from psychoanalysis. Evidence presented therein suggested that psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies can be considered as empirically supported treatments for adults suffering from common disorders: depressive, anxiety, personality and somatoform disorders. An evaluation of the available evidence provided the basis for the recommendation of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies in the treatment of these disorders.