Citation

Günter M. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy 2005; 19(3): 193-204.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the National Health Service)

DOI

10.1080/02668730500238184

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The use of drugs during psychoanalysis as well as the psychoanalytical treatment of patients who need psychopharmacological medication raise a whole series of problems that are also the subject of controversial discussion. Nevertheless, the body of literature available on this topic is still quite small. Medication is invariably an outside parameter that is introduced into the psychoanalysis and it can cause a blind spot in the psychoanalytic treatment. On the other hand, as we are treating severely disturbed patients, we are confronted with a growing necessity to introduce medication into the psychoanalytic setting. The paper discusses the related conflicts of the psychoanalyst and shows in a case report how an analytic stance can go hand in hand with adequate medication. The paper argues that we have to accept the state of the art in psychiatry and at the same time continue to talk about medication in terms of psychological processes even though it poses a conflict and is also a threat to our narcissistic equilibrium. © 2005 The Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the NHS.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; case report; suicide attempt; disease severity; emotional disorder; article; mental disease; psychoanalysis; consultation; sexual behavior; mirtazapine; priority journal; anxiety disorder; panic; psychopharmacology; psychopharmacotherapy; sexual intercourse; doctor patient relation; psychiatric treatment; intimacy; depressive psychosis; counter transference; psychoanalytic theory; tranquilizing activity; tranquilizer; narcissism; leg edema; unpleasant dream