Outcome Research and the Future of Psychoanalysis: Clinicians and Researchers in Dialogue

Description

Outcome Research and the Future of Psychoanalysis explores the connection between outcome studies and important and complex questions of clinical practices, research methodologies, epistemology, and sociological considerations. Presenting the ideas and voices of leading experts in clinical and extra-clinical research in psychoanalysis, the book provides an overview of the state of the art of outcome research, its results and implications. Furthermore, its contributions discuss the basic premises and ideas of outcome research and in which way the contemporary Zeitgeist might shape the future of psychoanalysis. Divided into three parts, the book begins by discussing the scientific basis of psychoanalysis and advances in psychoanalytic thinking as well as the state of the art of psychoanalytic outcome research, critically analyzing so-called evidence-based therapies. Part II of the book contains exemplary research projects that are discussed from a clinical perspective, illustrating the dialogue between researchers and clinicians. Lastly, in Part III, several psychoanalysts review the importance of critical thinking and research in psychoanalytical education. Thought-provoking and expertly written and researched, this book is a useful resource for academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of mental health, psychotherapy, and psychoanalysis. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Notes on contributors Introduction: Outcome research and the future of psychoanalysis A basic question Clinical and extraclinical research in psychoanalysis—some historical remarks The beginnings … The traumatic history of psychoanalysis and some of its epistemological and methodological consequences Some remarks on the development of psychoanalytic (outcome) research in Germany after 1945 Alexander Mitscherlich: charismatic personality and “one-man-army” in the heyday of psychoanalysis8 The decline of Freud’s cultural theory Loss of importance of psychoanalysis in medicine: the advance of pharmacological treatments and evidence-based medicine Freud bashing and the attack on psychoanalysis in times of evidence-based medicine Can outcome research save the future of psychoanalysis? Overview of the contributions of this volume Notes References Chapter 1: The scientific basis of psychoanalysis: Introductory remarks A B C Conclusion Notes References Part I: Outcome research: State of the art Chapter 2: Five advances in psychoanalytic thinking and their implications for outcome research A two-person psychology A developmental orientation A larger view of unconscious functioning Embodied experience An integrative stance Implications for outcomes research References Chapter 3: Where is the evidence for “evidence-based” therapy?1 Part 1: What research really shows Part 2: A closer look at research practices What “evidence-based” is supposed to mean Facts and alternative facts Notes References Chapter 4: Developing an innovative, scientific, clinically sensitive approach to investigate psychoanalytic process Psychoanalysis must espouse diverse sources and strategies of gaining psychoanalytic knowledge Outcome research and process-outcome research in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis The theoretical and practical centrality of the concept of psychoanalytic process Traditional research strategies on psychoanalytic process have reached a dead end The relational turn in contemporary psychoanalysis and a new approach to investigate analytic interaction Modern mother–infant research Our proposal: building bridges between the unformulated, implicit, unconscious and the verbal, explicit, conscious edges in psychoanalysis/psychotherapy process research Final: What does this approach contribute to psychoanalytic theory of change and to clinical practice? References Chapter 5: From case study to single case research: The specimen case Amalia X Introduction Grünbaum’s critique Edelson’s defense of single case studies Notes on the methodology of single case studies The Ulm Psychoanalytic Process Research Study Group The systematic–observational approach: a multi-level observational strategy Open questions Notes References Chapter 6: The importance of psychoanalytic research to contemporary medicine References Part II: Research and clinical practice in dialogue Chapter 7: Evidence for psychodynamic psychotherapy in specific mental disorders: A systematic review Evidence-based medicine and empirically supported treatments Methods Efficacy studies of PDT in specific mental disorders Evidence for the efficacy of PDT in specific mental disorders Discussion Note References Chapter 8: Clinical discussion of Psychodynamic Therapy: a Meta-Analysis Testing Equivalence of Outcome Quality of studies included The assessment of allegiance The logic of equivalency testing Clinical perspectives Cultural perspectives References Chapter 9: The LAC Study: A comparative outcome study of psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavioral long-term therapies of chronic depressive patients Introduction2 Methods Results Discussion Appendix Notes References Chapter 10: Discussion of The LAC Depression Study: a Comparative Outcome Study and a clinical case vignette A short clinical case from an art–psychotherapy group for long-term cancer patients at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Reference Chapter 11: Comparative psychotherapy research focused on the treatment of borderline personality disorder Introduction Evolving conception of borderline personality pathology Progressive steps in treatment development Critique of existing empirical development of treatments for BPD Expanding the utilization of TFP principles Conclusion: what have we learned? References Chapter 12: Memory reconsolidation, emotional arousal and the process of change in psychoanalysis Introduction Memory reconsolidation Episodic and semantic memory Implicit emotion Emotional trauma Process of change Discussion Acknowledgment References Chapter 13: Emotions in psychodynamic process and outcome research What are emotions? What is the role of emotions in the development of psychodynamic psychotherapy? What is the impact of emotional experiencing on treatment outcome? How can therapists promote emotional experience? Psychodynamic online self-help for affect phobia What we can learn from Emotion-Focused Psychotherapy (EFT) Future directions References Chapter 14: Discussion from a clinical perspective Clinical psychoanalysis, outcome research and pluralism The role of affect in development, psychopathology and psychotherapy Present and future of mutual enrichment between researchers and clinicians: training new generations References Part III: Critical thinking and research in psychoanalytic education Chapter 15: A clinician’s view of research, critical thinking, and culture in psychoanalytic education Introduction A psychoanalytic classroom vignette Backstory Alerts, warnings and proposed remedies Analytic identity and the psychoanalyst’s ego ideal Integrative thoughts and positive values References Chapter 16: Teaching empirical research in psychodynamic psychotherapy: How to make research really matter 1 Psychodynamic psychotherapy is an evidence-based treatment 2 Empirical research speaks to the clinical setting 3 Empirical research addresses clinical technique 4 A “systematic-empirical” approach encompasses different kinds of research: case study vs. population study 5 Neuroscience is relevant to psychodynamic theory and technique 6 Equivalence of outcome between different psychotherapy modalities (the dodo bird effect) and the role of common factors has real implications, but may challenge our allegiances 7 Expertise research and deliberate practice findings are refreshing and offer the therapist a career-long path to improvement 8 Research resources are available for ongoing learning References Chapter 17: The role of critical thinking and research in psychoanalytic education References Index