Barber and Solomov - Psychodynamic Theories

Unconscious contents and processes

Include defense mechanisms, behavior has meaning, conflicts in human life, and emergence of wishes, fears, desires, and thoughts.

Role of early childhood experiences

Particularly relationships with caretakers, representations of self and others, and balancing needs for dependence and intimacy with independence and autonomy.

Depression

Emphasis on loss of an object, internalization, phases of education, exploration, and self-awareness, common transference and countertransference reactions.

Obsessionality

Freud's anal triad, preoccupation with orderliness, parsimony, obstinacy, Salzman's need for control, common transference and countertransference reactions.

Fear of Abandonment

Margaret Mahler's theory, Kernberg's predispositions to aggression, phases of forming alliances, common transference reactions, and countertransference reactions.

Insight/Self Understanding

Aha moment, increased self-awareness, and insight leading to better understanding.

Defense Mechanisms

Mature (sublimation) and immature (self-harm, denial) mechanisms.

Quality of Object Relations

Based on mental representations of self and others, associated with symptom improvement.

Reflective Function

Mentalization capacity, more relevant for BPD and panic disorders.

Corrective Emotional Experience

Enhances openness, closeness, and alliance, associated with better therapeutic outcomes.

Therapeutic Relationship

Opening, middle, and ending phases, focusing on self-understanding and reflective capacity.

Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Effectiveness and maintenance in depression, obsessionality, fear of abandonment, panic, and trauma, with comparisons to other treatments.

Major Accomplishments

Influence on current psychotherapy, widespread in humanities, and training base for new therapies.

Future Directions

Research on central assumptions, randomized trials, process research, studying beyond symptoms, brain imaging, and public perceptions of dynamic psychotherapy.