"Trovare una direzione": vicissitudini identitarie di giovani adulti universitari. Studio preliminare sul processo di una psicoterapia psicoanalitica di gruppo a tempo determinato

In questo lavoro gli autori presentano alcuni risultati di un'indagine preliminare sul processo di una psicoterapia psicoanalitica di gruppo, con giovani adulti universitari, a tempo determinato, svolta all'interno del Servizio di assistenza psicologica per gli studenti - Dynamic Psychotherapy Service (SAP-DPS) dell'Università di Padova. Lo studio è volto a esaminare lo sviluppo tematico nel corso della psicoterapia, con attenzione specifica sia ai pazienti che ai conduttori. A tal fine ci si è avvalsi di tecniche proprie dell'analisi del contenuto, applicate ai report delle sedute, con il supporto del software Atlas.ti. Gli autori evidenziano come i risultati ottenuti - per quanto parziali e non generalizzabili - confermino la portata evolutiva dell'emerging adulthood e possano costituire spunti utili per successivi studi che vogliano approfondire il rapporto tra efficacia e processo, nell'ottica di un proficuo dialogo tra ricerca e pratica clinica. 

Psychoanalysis and Interdisciplinarity With Non-analytic Psychotherapeutic Approaches Through the Lens of Dialectics

Psychoanalysis, in its purist mainstream sense, tends to be considered as an isolationist discipline that steers clear of interdisciplinary connections with other psychotherapies. Its drive for purity does not open up to influences that cast as alien and a threat to its core principles. We refer to Hegelian dialectics in an attempt to offer an alternative approach to interdisciplinarity in clinical psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis entertains a complex dialectical relationship with the major theories it opposes. In this dynamic, psychoanalysis begins by negating the non-psychoanalytic theory as a part of self-negation (Hegel calls this phase self-alienation). But in its own process of growth, it negates this negation and reabsorbs the alienated self part. Reabsorbing the negated component, psychoanalysis does not revert to its original identity but becomes sublated into a different, more complex idea. In this epistemological process, psychoanalysis deals with its own practical and theoretical anomalies and lacunas. The paper illustrates this process using three central developments in the history of psychoanalysis: empathy in self psychology (connection with Rogers' humanist psychology), short-term dynamic psychotherapy (connection with short, intensive therapies), and mentalization-based psychotherapy (connection with cognitive-behavioral therapies). In all of these cases, psychoanalysis integrates components it previously opposed and changes these components to their own, specific characteristics. We address the epistemological shifts in the scientific status of psychoanalysis and show their connection to dialectics. Finally, we conclude that dialectical development is what allows psychoanalysis to remain relevant and up to date, to be open to interdisciplinary influences without its identity and tradition coming under threat.

Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy provided by novice psychotherapists: effects on symptomatology and psychological structure in patients with anxiety disorders

This study examines the effectiveness of psychotherapy provided by novice therapists, in an attempt to clarify the controversial relationship between treatment effectiveness and therapist experience. To achieve this, we examined the short- and long-term effectiveness of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in the treatment of patients with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, IV edition - Text Revision anxiety disorders, as provided by novice psychology trainees. Twenty-two patients with anxiety disorders were provided ISTDP. Patients improved significantly on all outcome indices, including the global assessment of functioning, the symptom checklist and the inventory of interpersonal problems, at the end of the treatment and at 6 and 12 month follow-up. In addition to these results, there was marked structural personality change as evidenced by ratings on the Shedler Westen assessment procedure (SWAP-200), at the same assessment moments; the SWAP-200 psychological health index score showed a meaningful increase in adaptive psychological resources and capacities, while the mean number of personality diagnoses decreased from the beginning to the end of therapy, and all patients maintaining their gains in 6-12 month follow-up. We conclude that ISTDP provided by novice psychotherapists is efficacious in bringing broad and in-depth change to pathology that can perpetuate anxiety disorders and other psychiatric conditions.

Die Affektphobietherapie

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Ein zentraler Faktor psychischer Gesundheit ist die Fähigkeit, Affekte wahrnehmen und adaptiv regulieren zu können. Die Verbesserung dieser Fähigkeit ist ein Ziel der psychodynamischen Psychotherapie. Psychodynamische Behandlungsmodelle, die sich aus der gut validierten Tradition der „short-term dynamic psychotherapy“ (STDP) ableiten und die heute unter dem Dach der International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association (https://iedta.net/) versammelt sind, legen auf besondere Weise den Behandlungsfokus auf das emotionale Erleben. Ein derartiges psychodynamisches transdiagnostisches Behandlungsmodell ist die Affektphobietherapie (APT). Ziel der Arbeit (Fragestellung) Ziel der Übersicht ist es, den Leser mit dem Behandlungsrational und der Evidenz der APT vertraut zu machen. Material und Methoden Es werden die theoretischen Grundlagen der APT, typische Interventionen und Prozessinstrumente beschrieben. Die Evidenz des APT-Modells wird als narrative Übersicht der Studienlage dargestellt. Ergebnisse und Schlussfolgerung Die APT ist ein evidenzbasiertes psychodynamisches Behandlungsmodell. Das Rational ist schulenübergreifend. Ein Selbsthilfeprogramm auf der Basis der APT wird von Patienten gut aufgenommen. Manualisierung, Fertigkeitenorientierung und Prozessinstrumente machen es zu einem vielversprechenden Modell für die Aus- und Fortbildung.