The Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile. I. Validity and dimensionality

The Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile (KAPP) is a new rating instrument based on psychoanalytical theory that is intended to assess relatively stable modes of mental functioning, as they appear in self-perception and in interpersonal relations. The 18 subscales of the KAPP and their scale steps are described in detail. The information needed for assessment is obtained through a structural interview procedure. The KAPP can discriminate between patients with and without a DSM-III diagnosis. It does not appear to be sensitive to the strain of a major life event. Comparison between interview-based ratings and projective test-based ratings shows satisfactory agreement and similarities in factor structure. The KAPP appears to possess both discriminative and construct validity.     

Psychodynamic and structured interviewing: A synthesis I. Rationale

The divisions concerning interviewing strategies that have persisted among clinicians with different frames of reference and between clinicians and social scientists rest largely on unexamined traditional assumptions about the necessary differences in their subjects and methods. Such divisions have been disadvantageous for the investigation of many kinds of research problems. Sufficient bases exist for a synthesis of psychodynamic and structured interviewing techniques and such a strategy can be applied to both patient and nonpatient populations. Such a synthesis offers the potential of yielding a more complete and unbiased understanding of both the objective dimension of the behavior and the subjective dimension of motivations and meaning associated with psychosocial problems.     

The use of cognitive behavior therapy with a normalizing rationale in schizophrenia. Preliminary report

Sixty-four consecutively referred patients with schizophrenia were treated with cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy as an adjunct to standard treatment. A destigmatizing rationale to explain symptom emergence was devised and supplemented these techniques. They proved safe to use and appeared acceptable to patients and their relatives. Members of the group are being maintained on low levels of or no medication and have required minimal hospitalization. The techniques used are described in detail.     

Psychodynamic therapy approaches in depressive disorders. Pathogenesis models and empirical principles

Targets for psychodynamic psychotherapy are the core conflictual relational mode and its consequences for mood, social behaviour, and self image. Libido- and conflict-based concepts of the relational mode are increasingly being replaced by the concept of intersubjectivity, which includes also nonconflictual, healthy modes of relations as a basic human mental task. According to recent mother-infant interaction research, the psychotherapeutic effect on the relational mode can be interpreted in terms of procedural learning rather than insight-oriented discourse. The mother-infant paradigm is a particularly suitable research paradigm to elucidate unconscious procedural acquisition of mental representations of dyadic interactional styles. Procedural learning requires a more active corrective style of interacting on the therapist's side, beyond abstinence and control of countertransference. Evaluative studies show that psychodynamic psychotherapy of depression is nearly as effective as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).     

Acute tryptophan depletion. Part I: rationale and methodology

OBJECTIVE: Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) is an experimental technique that has been widely used over the last decade to investigate the role of serotonin (5-HT) in a variety of disorders. This review, the first of two articles, describes the rationale behind this technique and provides detail on how it is applied in research settings. METHOD: The authors outline the development of this technique with reference to the seminal literature and more recent findings from neuroimaging and neuroendocrine studies. This is supplemented by the authors' clinical experience of over 5 years of continuous experimental work with this paradigm in over 50 subjects. RESULTS: Acute tryptophan depletion is a method that significantly reduces central 5-HT in human subjects. Non-serotonergic explanations of the effects of ATD have not been confirmed, supporting the specificity of this method. CONCLUSIONS: The ATD technique is a valid method of manipulating central 5-HT levels. The second article in this series will review the application of ATD in depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions.     

Psychodynamic and behavior modification approaches to the treatment of infantile autism

In the treatment of infantile autism, behaviorists emphasize directed behavioral change while psychodynamic therapists tend to focus attention on the worker-child relationship. A review of the literature suggests that both of these aspects of intervention are important, and that both play a role in virtually all therapeutic efforts. The similarities in methods of intervention found in the work of investigators of very different theoretical persuasion raise the possibility that most treatment methods owe more to empirical clinical experience than to their presumed derivation from a theoretical model. This thesis is further examined with respect to a 50-year-old case history by Lightmer Witmer, and the work of the present writer with an 11-year-old autistic boy.Special thanks are due to Master Teacher Nancy Buckler whose insights and suggestions greatly contributed to the treatment approach adopted by the author.     

精神动力学治疗：一例出现创伤后应激反应的来访者

个体经历创伤性事件之后,往往会出现一系列的应激反应,严重时甚至会影响到正常的工作和生活,且持续时间较长。针对创伤后应激反应的心理治疗有很多形式,下面介绍一例采用精神动力学治疗创伤后应激反应个案的情况。     

Psychodynamic personality markers of psychotherapists in relation to therapy outcome

In the Berlin psychotherapy study data were collected not only from the patients but also from the therapists. Thus, the influence of personality variables of the therapists on the multidimensionally registered therapy success could be studied. To this end a nonlinear k-sets canonical analysis was applied resulting in a sample-specific optimal scaling. The relationship pattern of the two sets of variables found was satisfactory as regards the internal criteria of the programme as well as its clinical meaningfulness. The results can be used in similar studies for specifying therapist-related hypotheses.