Citation

Karon BP. Ethical Hum. Psychol. Psychiatry 2016; 18(2): 134-149.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Springer Publishing Company)

DOI

10.1891/1559-4343.18.2.134

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Who am I to treat this person? That is what came to mind every time I treated a seriously disturbed patient. I do not know enough, and I have hang-ups. But no one knows enough, and every therapist has hang-ups, although our own analysis helps. We may feel confused, frightened, angry, or hopeless because these are the patient's feelings. Discussed are creating rational hope, dealing with feelings (including terror), depression, delusions, hallucinations, and suicidal and homicidal dangers. Theory is helpful, but it is not enough. Tolerating not knowing often leads to effective improvisations. Best results were obtained with psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic therapy without medication. Next best was psychoanalytic therapy with initial medication withdrawn as rapidly as the patient can tolerate. Electroconvulsive therapy is discouraged. © 2016, Springer Publishing Company.

Language: en

Keywords

human; Depression; homicide; suicide; Schizophrenia; depression; Psychosis; hope; hopelessness; mental disease; psychoanalysis; priority journal; hallucination; electroconvulsive therapy; delusion; psychoanalytic theory; Article; Psychoanalytic therapy