Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146:1552-1560
Copyright © 1989 by American Psychiatric Association
A critical review of object relations theory
NG Hamilton
Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
Over the past 20 years, object relations theory has broadly influenced
general psychiatry. Along with its insights, the theory has brought its own
conundrums. This paper provides an overview of the theory, indicating its
contributions--such as a basis for individual psychotherapy of severe
disorders and a more effective understanding of countertransference--and
its shortcomings--such as lack of an explanation for the effects of
physical and cognitive factors on object relatedness. Object relations
theory fills a niche in the biopsychosocial model but is not a complete
psychology for general psychiatry. Rather, it is an addition to drive
theory and ego psychology within psychoanalysis.
