Psychodynamic psychiatry in the "decade of the brain"
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: To illustrate the continued relevance of psychodynamic thinking in the practice of contemporary psychiatry, the author reviews a number of studies that demonstrate the intimate connection between psychosocial and neurophysiological factors in the etiology and pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. A survey of three specific anxiety disorders illustrates the complex interaction between mind and brain in these disorders. RESULTS: Research on both primates and humans suggests that psychological influences result in permanent alterations of a neurobiological nature. Similarly, psychological interventions in a treatment context may have a profound impact on neurophysiology. Clinical case examples demonstrate that "biologically based" disorders may be rich in unconscious meaning. Clinical understanding of the meaning of symptoms may be instrumental in ensuring patients' compliance with pharmacotherapy regimens and in the removal of other resistances to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In contemporary psychiatry, a psychodynamic perspective must be preserved. Without it, meaning will be lost, and both diagnostic understanding and informed treatment planning will suffer as a result.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).