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 You are here: ABOUT PSYCHOANALYSIS * ASK A PSYCHOANALYST! * COMPARATIVE TREATMENTS (INCLUDING MEDICATION)
 FAQs
Q.  Outcome Studies
I don't have any specific questions, but wondered, what, if anything has been authored by yourself and/or any of your colleagues on the following areas which may be of interest to the general audience. They are: 1) High functioning behavioral health patients vs. lower functioning outpatient health facilities for the progression of their wellness (In other words, our "health system ain't keepin up with a high-functioning patient audience" so-to-speak) Is regression, that otherwise would have been "progression" imminent with this audience as a result of our health system? 2) Workplace Relation (Violent/Abusive Conduct) Issues and the Emotional Distress and physical manifestations it can bear on one's health...long term; and 3) Creativity in a severely depressed person - is it possible to lose the practical and daily functioning/focusing/concentration power to a heightened and somewhat hidden level of creative skills? I would appreciate any information on these topics.
Q.  Alexithymia
Do you have any information about a mental condition called "alexithymia"?
Q.  Anxiety Disorders and Psychoanalysis
Are there benefits to treating anxiety disorders with psychoanalysis? Or is more short-term cognitive behavioral therapy more advantageous?
Q.  Cognitive aspects of psychoanalysis
Cognitive-behavioral therapies and psychoanalysis differ in many ways, but both seem to hold strongly that reason will inevitably cure us. CBT makes no bones about this. But most psychoanalysts purport that they are really dealing directly with primitive, affect-laden material. Judging from session notes used in articles from the main psychoanalytic journals, psychoanalytic interpretation seems to be a highly intellectualized form of communication, which if anything would seem to obfuscate important affective information from the unconscious. I think that Freud was worried about this but it seems to have gotten worse. Certain forms of "post-modern" and "intersubjective" psychoanalysis seem indistinguishable from newer forms of cognitive therapy in that they pay only lip service to unconscious processes and structures. What about accelerated, but more intensive forms of psychoanalytic psychotherapy developed by Davanloo (McGill U), Sifneos (Harvard), or McCullough-Vaillant? (Harvard). From the evidence provided by videotaped sessions, these approaches seem to produce in patients vivid unconscious material that is only speculated about in psychoanalysis. By the way isn't intellectualization a defense?
Q.  Cognitive - Behavioral Therapy
I'm a fourth-year psychiatry resident with an interest in psychoanalysis. I was wondering what, in your view, might be the psychoanalytic understanding of Cognitive - Behavioral Therapy. Any good references in the analytic literature?
Q.  Criticisms of Psychoanalysis
Could you please tell me some criticisms of using psychoanalysis? I am doing a research paper for my Psychology of Personality class and I am having problems finding criticisms.
Q.  Disabilities and Mental Illness
I am attending college and in a few classes, including psychology, education and some social work classes, we are being taught that people with disabilities often have some sort of mental illness because of their disability. What do you think of this? I'd like to find some scholarly journals to support or disprove this 'theory'.
Q.  "Draw-a-Person" Test
I am a medical student who recently completed a clinical clerkship in Psychiatry. In our evaluation of patients, the psychiatrists worked closely with a psychologist, and an art therapist. Patients were sometimes asked to complete a "Draw-a-Person" or "Draw-a-House" test, in an attempt to obviate subconscious thoughts and ideas. It was my experience that the interpretation of these tests are sometimes poorly interpreted due to their subjective nature. Is there a "Gold standard" for interpretation of these "Draw-a-Person/House" tests? I would greatly appreciate any information that would help me to better understand how to accurately evaluate these valuable studies.
Q.  Drawings of Schizophrenic Patients
I'm doing a research project that concerns interpretation of drawings of schizophrenic patients and diagnosing possibilities of these drawings. Could you inform me about latest research in this field and give major publication titles or researchers' names on this theme?
Q.  Gestalt Therapy
What do psychoanalysts think about Gestalt therapy?
Q.  Flooding
I am the editor of CNS News, a neuropsychiatric news publication that goes to 66,000 neurologists, psychiatrists and primary care physicians. We are running an article based on an Anxiety Disorders Association of America symposium on flooding, and I had a few questions I was hoping you could comment on.
1. Is this a generally accepted practice in psychotherapy, or is considered experimental in any way?
2. The speaker stated that there is very little relapse when flooding is used, but does the patient ever lash out in response to being placed in the situation they fear?
Q.  Harry Stack Sullivan
I am a grad student studying various personality theories. Of recent particular interest to me is Harry Stack Sullivan's Interpersonal Theory & Stages of Development. Are his theories in use today; or have they been overridden by more contemporary Psychologists? If in use today, where may I find them?
Q.  Inner Objects and Introjects
What is the difference between the concepts: (inner) object and introject.
Q.  Manic-Depression
I am conducting research on manic-depression (bipolar disorder), and I can only find a small amount of information on whether or not this disorder is genetic. Can you please give me your standpoint on whether or not bipolar disorder is passed on through the genes, and whether or not it is more common to pass in the male or female chromosome?
Q.  Psychopharmacology
I have heard psychotropic drugs such as Prozac likened in a psychological context to analgesics or anti-inflammatories in the physical one. As such, these drugs are considered by some to be facilitative salves which can be applied, at least in the beginning, to provide relief from pain and anxiety while the hard work of psychotherapy or psychoanalysis is performed. What is your position or that of the APSAA on the use or utility of psychotropic drugs in psychoanalysis or psychotherapy?
Q.  Psychoanalytic vs. CBT Treatment for Children
I am a graduate student with a Masters in Clinical Psychology, pursuing a Psy.D. at a cognitive-behaviorally-focused clinical psych program. What little exposure I've gotten to psychoanalysis/dynamic therapy (coursework, articles, books, seminars) has convinced me that this is a preferred treatment approach to the others I have been exposed to. A primary reason for my choice is that analytic work includes many features inherent in personal growth and development work that I pursue in my own life and which I think are vital in helping clients progress in health. Many other treatments, such as CBT, seem to be missing a vital piece to alleviating problems - early experiences and the impressions they leave on the unseen world of the unconscious and how that unconscious influences later, adult life. I also feel that this type of work has much longer lasting effects on the individual. My reason for mailing you is to ask if you are aware of any additional articles or sources similar to Fonagy & Target (1996), citing the advantages of psychoanalysis in the treatment of children. As I progress in my studies in a predominantly CBT program, I will need to continuously justify my choice of this approach in the conceptualization and treatment of children. I am surrounded by skeptical professors and supervisors who pressure me to pursue CBT regardless of the population and problem. Of course, this is a case of "if I had only known then what I know now." But, I wish to make the best of the situation, learn as much as I can, and integrate theories when appropriate to individual cases. Again, thank you for any referrals you can provide.
Q.  Psychoanalysis and Meditation
I am a doctoral student researching the link between psychoanalysis and meditation, which refers to part of my dissertation. Would it be possible for you to provide me any references on this topic. So far, I have not found any article that focuses exclusively on this topic.
Q.  Psychoanalysis and Medication
Can a man who takes prescribed psychotropics undertake psychoanalysis?
Q.  Psychoanalysis, Psychology, Psychiatry
Is there a difference between psychoanalysis, psychology, and psychiatry? If so, could you explain?
Q.  Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamics
What is the difference between psychoanalysis and psychodynamics? Secondly, can you please provide me with a simple guideline with which I could write a concise but informative essay on psychoanalysis and psychodynamics.
Q.  Psychoanalysis vs. Psychotherapy
What exactly is the difference between psychoanalysis and psychotherapy?
Q.  Public Awareness of "Emotional Learning"
I've always wondered why young adults are not exposed to group or individual psychotherapy before high school graduation. I think the benefits would be enormous:
1) All young adults need experience in expressing themselves in a supportive environment.
2) The experience is likely to send them out into the world with therapy as an attractive alternative in their lives.
3) Over time, the public perception of therapy is likely to improve.
4) Young adults with a healthy attitude may be easier to treat than older defensive adults.
5) Society would certainly benefit from a population of adults who have some experience in expressing their feelings and listening to the problems of others.
Why doesn't the American Psycholanalytic Association have a goal of getting such a program started in the public school? Couldn't high school teachers be trained to moderate? What would you say the obstacles are to getting such a program started? Do you have any suggestions on how the obstacles could be overcome?
Q.  The Rorschach in Creativity
I am a Venezuelan, finishing my pregraduate studies in psychology and am interested in developing my thesis on the subject of "poets and personality." I am planning to evaluate with the Rorschach a total of 30 poets and compare this group to the norms of the Venezuelan population. For that reason I have been trying to locate bibliography on the subject. Do you think you can help me locate articles on creativity, artists, poets and the Rorschach? I would be very grateful if their is a possibility of locating such articles.
Q.  Self-Analysis
I want to know your opinion about self analysis? Do you think it's possible? I was under analysis for two years, but right now I don't have access to a good therapist. Could you give me some tips about the subject?
Q.  Shock vs. Strain Trauma
I am currently doing a research project in which I am comparing and contrasting The Strain Theory with shock trauma. I would appreciate any information you can offer.
Q.  The Therapeutic Alliance
I am a student of psychology, and need information or references about the therapeutic alliance.
Q.  Treatment of Phobias
Why do you feel that phobias are a psychoanayltic problem as opposed to cognitive, behavior, biological, etc.? Why would long term therapy (the type that most psychoanalytic therapists recommend) be the most effective?
Q.  Thomas Szasz and "Problems in Living"
Is there anything wrong with Dr. Thomas Szasz's view that "mental disorders" are really "problems in living"?
Q.  Zomaril
I am interested in a new anti-psychotic agent called Zomaril ( iloperidone ) currently undergoing phase 3 study in the U.S. Do you have any knowledge of the drug, its relative safety and efficacy, and the specific sites where the current trials are being undertaken? How promising is this new therapy?

 
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