Article Summaries On Pyschoanalysis

Running head: PSYCHOANALYSIS

The Use of Psychoanalysis in Treatment of Mental Health

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PSYCHOANALYSIS 2

Introduction

What exactly has been the role of psychoanalysis on mental health services and how

can it be measured? This paper presents summaries of seven articles on the reviews of the role of

psychoanalysis in mental health services. From this analysis, one thing is clear, that this subject

is under-researched, leading to misconceptions about it.

Article Summary: The effect of using psychoanalysis a treatment mechanism

Fonagy, P., Lemma, A., Salkovskis, P., and Wolpert, L. (2012): Psychoanalysis: Does it have a

Valuable place in Modern Mental Health Services? MJ 2012; p.344

In this article, the authors attempt to trace the value of psychoanalysis from both the

historical and modern perspective. They argue that the practice has no value in modern mental

health and hence; should not be overemphasized. According to them, evidence for the

effectiveness of psychoanalysis does not exist; while the basic constructs underpinning its use

has no empirical ground. On the other hand, evidence is rife concerning its ineffectiveness in

mental health services. The authors go on to suggest that the practice and theory surrounding

psychoanalysis are unfavorable in the current mental health context and thus, its application is

perverse and counterproductive to what it may be intended to achieve. For instance, empirically

based psychological therapies such as the popular cognitive behavior therapy were established by

Clinicians who had extensive training in psychoanalytic approaches but who later found it

ineffective. Therefore, the author’s key argument in this article is the ineffectiveness of

PSYCHOANALYSIS 3

psychoanalysis in treatment of mental disorders. In backing up their argument, they have

employed various studies and theories backing to support their claim.

Chancer, L. (2013). Sociology: Psychoanalysis and Marginalization: Unconscious Defenses and

Disciplinary Interests. Sociological Forum, 28, 3, Pages 452–468

In this article, Chancer (2013), points out that those psychoanalytic perspectives in

mental health services has been sidelined by American sociology. Various reasons contribute to

these, among these including but not limited to the immeasurable nature of psychoanalysis in

terms of its effect as a treatment approach, the focus of this therapy on internal aspects despite

the fact that mental issues have an external cause rather than an inward one. Chancer continues

to argue that psychoanalysis places its focus on sociology and groups yet the two concepts are

incommensurate. In order to strengthen the psychoanalysis discipline, psychoanalysis need to be

combined with the sociological perspectives to conceive a multi-dimensional individual within

diverse cultural and social settings. In other words, scholars need to explore an interactional

dynamic that are both social and psychic in nature in order to achieve the intended results.

Chancer (2013) points out that the use of psychoanalysis need not be sidelined though as it can

be effective when combined with the sociological treatment perspective in evaluating the

psychological and emotional dimensions for individuals and groups.

O'Loughlin, M. (2016). Review of what is psychoanalysis: 100 years after Freud’s ‘secret

Committee’. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 33(2), 349-354.

In this work, O'Loughlin (2016) appears to side with the previous authors analyzed in

this article concerning the fate of psychoanalytic approach as a mental health treatment option.

PSYCHOANALYSIS 4

According to this author, psychoanalysis does not particularly have the requisite theoretical

capacity and vigor to enable it to stand questioning as it regards its efficacy and grounding. In

other words, there is no reliable evidence yet on whether the application of this approach

generates positive outcomes. However, O'Loughlin (2016) observes that the framework can be

polished to become a better idea and that the reason why its founder Freud instituted a secret

committee in 1912 that was mandated with the task of policing doctrinal orthodoxy of this

theory. Perhaps, the ideas of Chancer (2013) can be borrowed to reinforce this theory and its

application for better results.

Holmes, J. (2013). Review of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Therapies: Theories of

psychotherapy series. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 30(1), 102-104.

In this work, the author Holmes (2013) focuses on analyzing the achievements,

techniques and problems associated with the use of psychoanalytic therapy in treatment of

mental health disorders particularly bulimia, depression and relationship issues. Tracing the

history of psychoanalytic consideration and ensuing movement, he notes that the theory has been

refined to become influential over the years. However, the inherent culturally conservative

tendencies within this theory have been the cause of its historical tension between the political

and subversive progressive threats in psychoanalysis. This author’s argument deviates from the

opinion raised by others presented here by stating that modern developments in psychoanalysis

can have a potential vital and contrastive function on the future of the mental health system.

This is despite the controversies which the theory has exhibited at the moment.

Boag, S. (2006). Freudian repression, the common view, and pathological science, Review of

General Psychology, 10(1), pp.74-86

PSYCHOANALYSIS 5

According to Boag, the infectiveness of psychoanalysis as a theory has been brought

about by invalid inferences and applications. As per this author, the fixation of Freud’s theory

has largely ignored the theoretical developments constituting mature psychoanalysis. It is this

ignorance that has impacted the testing of Freudian theory as it regards to its application. This

sustained failure and ignorance has been attributed to lack or failure for a critical inquiry for a

better comprehension of psychoanalysis and the better ways of applying it.

Frie, R. (2017). Review of conservative and radical perspective on Psychoanalytic

Knowledge: The fascinated and the disenchanted. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 34(3),

375-376.

In his view, Frie (2017) much of what is currently known about modern

psychoanalysis has been largely shaped by past knowledge in the discipline. Therefore, scholars

and researchers have done very little in presenting the right information concerning the core

elements contained in psychoanalytic therapy. Frie therefore, agrees with Boag that the failure in

the right application of Freud’s theory is due to misconception and lack of knowledge on how to

apply it.

Brown, K., Tracy, D. (2014). Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in Contemporary Mental Health

Services: Current Evidence, Future Role and Challenges. BJS, 30 (2), 229-242

An analysis by Brown, and Tracy (2014) regarding the impact of Psychoanalytic

Psychotherapy establishes difficulties encountered by this approach in mental health services.

Among these difficulties is the fact that the subject has been under-researched while it is also

expensive. Furthermore, the discipline the most less understood as a cognitive behavior therapy

by the GP and thus unfavorably compared. In deviating from other scholars, Brown and Tracy

PSYCHOANALYSIS 6

postulate that psychoanalytic therapy has a crucial clinical role and strengths that need to be

promoted and stated by clinical for future commissioning.

Conclusion

This review has unearthed quite an interesting finding concerning the use of

psychoanalytic therapy in treatment of mental issues. Although the peculiar observation is that its

role as a treatment approach in mental health is insignificant, there is a general agreement among

scholars the efficacy or such a role has been mostly under-explored by researchers. Therefore,

more studies are needed to assess the application and impact of psychoanalysis in clinical and

mental health services. GPs need to be informed accordingly on better ways of applying this

approach to achieve the intended results.

PSYCHOANALYSIS 7

References

Brown, K., Tracy, D. (2014). Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in Contemporary Mental Health

Services: Current Evidence, Future Role and Challenges. BJS, 30 (2), 229-242

Boag, S. (2006). Freudian repression, the common view, and pathological science, Review of

General Psychology, 10(1), pp.74-86

Chancer, L. (2013). Sociology: Psychoanalysis and Marginalization: Unconscious Defenses and

Disciplinary Interests. Sociological Forum, 28, 3, Pages 452–468

Frie, R. (2017). Review of conservative and radical perspective on Psychoanalytic

Knowledge: The fascinated and the disenchanted. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 34(3),

375-376.

Fonagy, P., Lemma, A., Salkovskis, P., and Wolpert, L. (2012): Psychoanalysis: Does it have a

valuable place in Modern Mental Health Services?

MJ 2012; 344 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e1188

Holmes, J. (2013). Review of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Therapies: Theories of

psychotherapy series. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 30(1), 102-104.

O'Loughlin, M. (2016). Review of What is psychoanalysis: 100 years after Freud’s ‘secret

committee’. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 33(2), 349-354.

PSYCHOANALYSIS 8

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Article Summaries on Pyschoanalysis

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