30598 2016 eng article 0 -- -- -- The author analyzes the temporal dimension of depression by making reference to one of the clinical cases he treated and re-examining a clinical case analyzed by Edith Jacobson. According to the result of his observations, the developmental psychodynamics of a depressive state normally appears to take place in two distinct phases: a first narcissistic loss, which gives rise to an integrative conflict and to the formation of a certain identificatory structure, is later followed by a second narcissistic loss, which leads to the real depressive state. The two phases present a specific, intrinsic connection constituted by the implication of the same identificatory element of the self, recognition of which can favour a clinical work that more closely adheres to the deep dynamics of depression. International Forum of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 24 (No. 1, 2016), pp. 19-30. Ventimiglia_G_2016 Z 071-2016 print and PDF-scan / Druck und PDF-Scan PDF-scan upon request / PDF-Scan auf Anfrage Ventimiglia_G_2016 on request / auf Anfrage Giancarlo Ventimiglia Articles / Artikel https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-Fromm/files/30598/Ventimiglia_G_2016.pdf