Fromm, Freud, and Midrasch
(1999)
The paper discusses Frieda Fromm-Reichmann's theoretical contributions on the psychotherapy of psychoses and refers it to other authors' views. Today widely accepted, she stressed transference and countertransference as es-sential issues in the treatment of severely disturbed patients. She disagreed with authors like Federn who interpreted the concept of regression in a way that to treat schizophrenics means to treat children of different ages. Different from Federn, she advocated interpretations also of the positive transference to show the patient where he stands in life. Later on, Fromm-Reichmann opposed John Rosen and his direct analysis interpreting first the contents of the psychotic's speech. She stressed the form of the interaction and of the everyday behaviour where she saw where the patient stands in the world. The discussion shows that Fromm-Reichmann developed her theories and practice in cooperation and discussion with other psychoanalysts working with psychotic patients.
A New Start for the Continuation of MEGA-Project: Notes on the Recent Publication of MEGA IV/3
(1999)
Kreativität und Schule
(1999)
This paper is a meditation on the interpenetration of mental and physical, particularly architectural, place. Its premise is that the relationship between person and place is transitional, ever in flux, person continually defining place into a continuous reality, and reality perpetually placing person. Further, this interchange occurs against the backdrop of an inconceivable void whereby the very terms of the interchange can be nullified. Such a void is unconscious and outside in the sense that it is outside what can be known. The matter of opening the inside to the outside becomes an endeavor shared by psychoanalysis and by architecture, notably sacred architecture. The exchange between inside and outside is considered using as examples the body, Freud's office, Disneyland, and the cathedral. Implications are extrapolated as to the provisional nature of the self.
A Contribution to the Settlement of the Historical Antinomy between Conflict and Defects in the Self
(1999)
Inquiring about the origin of mental distress from a relational point of view, the author focuses on the debate between conflict and structural defects, in order to overcome the dichotomy between the two different perspectives. According to the doctrine of defects in the self, which is based on certain Object Relations Theories, pathology is caused by faulty or inadequate caregivers. The doctrine seems too simplistic, because the child is thought of as completely passive. According to the relational viewpoint in psychoanalysis, the development of the subject takes place in a mutual conditioning process between the subject and the environment, which has to be better conceptualised. Defects in the interactive relationships with the primary caregivers, viewed as a failure in the relationship, create in the child a decompensation, which makes it withdraw from the relationship. In order to open itself to the relationship again, as a primal objectual need, the child builds up a pattern of response, which allows it to negotiate it again. Making use of the research on the first phases of development of R. Emde (psychoanalytic trend), C. Trevarthen (interactive-cognitive trend) and K. Kaye (child psychology), the author argues that the adherence to the structured response pattern leads to a conflict between the structured self image and any other potential different way of seeing oneself. Through a clinical vignette the author will demonstrate how this may lead to a non-cohesiveness of the self, viewed as an inactivation of the subject's developmental possibilities.
Action in connection with the therapeutic process is often equated with acting out. The subtle behaviour that belongs to ?the complicated system of transmitting and receiving unconscious signals? (Sandler), with which the patient attempts to make the analyst behave as the object of transference or to fulfill an unconscious desire, is also described as acting out or micro-acting out (Treurniet). This fine-grained action, however, means nothing; it is not symbolic or communicative action. Its intention is, rather, to trigger effects and induce interactions. It occurs not only on the side of the analysand but also on that of the analyst, and is part of the unconscious communication in the therapeutic process. Presented here are some of the various interactive ways and means with which the analyst is prompted into unconscious action and certain, unnoticed, ways in that he turn ?treatsfithe patient. The analyst's action responses can bear the character of interpretations with which he may unintentionally reveal how he regards the behaviour of the patient.
Satjagraha als Wissenschaft
(1999)
The forming and early development of the Swedish Society for Holistic Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis is described. The influence of the personal background of those who formed the society, the general zeitgeist in which the society unfolded and the specific circumstances in the field of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in Sweden at the actual time is paid attention to. The significance of Dr. Harold Kelman as a supervisor and teacher during the forming years is underlined. The forming of the International Federation of Psychoanalytic Societies (IFPS) is mentioned as an important matrix for the growth of the society.
This article, which analyses a crime that took place in the city of Brasilia in 1997, is based on two separate and correlated hypotheses. Firstly, this crime reveals a fact about psychic structure: the >real< dimension irrupts through acts. Therefore, psychoanalytical practice must contemplate the >real< dimension. Secondly, we would like to pose two questions. Is it necessary for today's psychoanalysts to be aware of and involved with contemporary events? If the analyst ignores modern dialectics, what kind of symbolic involvement can he establish with the lives of the people he analyzes? Being committed to contemporary symbolic culture signifies that we must relinquish the comfortable division between good and evil. Acts of violence, performed by human beings, necessarily indicate both >enjoyment< and >truth<. In the symbolic dimension, we understand and comprehend; in the symbolic dimension, we are reasonable. But, not all acts fall within this pacifying register. If we consider these two aspects: on one hand, the analyst's responsibility to the patient, in regard to symbolic commitment and, on the other hand, the irruption of violent and senseless acts, this would mean that as analysts, we find ourselves lacking a certain neutrality, contrary to the position defended by some analysts.
>Tue das Unerwartete< – Eindrücke über eine gewaltfreies Training zur Zivilcourage mit Bernd Sahler
(1999)
Using a naturalistic design, 44 patients in psychoanalysis were examined with regard to qualitative and quantitative outcome of therapy. The results were compared with those from 56 dynamic and 164 inpatient therapies. Comparison of symptoms, diagnoses, and motivation prior to therapy led to the conclusion that the patient groups treated within these settings differed greatly. For this reason randomisation appeared to be an inadequate strategy for comparing groups in different therapeutic settings. Using different outcome criteria, it could be demonstrated that psychoanalysis patients on the whole attained good therapeutic results. The outcomes were the best in comparison with the other two therapy categories investigated. The use of different outcome criteria and observer perspectives (patient and therapist) led to therapy results with clear-cut differences. In the patient view, the main effect was cessation of psychosomatic, anxiety- and depression-related symptoms. The therapists furthermore reported clear-cut changes in the scales depicting relationship variables. The study presents success rates obtained on the basis of different outcome criteria and discusses them with special emphasis on the methodology of recording outcomes. The paper concludes by making recommendations for psychoanalysis studies yet to be planned.
Das Unbehagen in der Moderne
(1999)