THE ANALYTIC PROCESS - CLINICAL AND RESEARCH DEFINITIONS

Citation
Sc. Vaughan et Sp. Roose, THE ANALYTIC PROCESS - CLINICAL AND RESEARCH DEFINITIONS, International Journal of Psycho-analysis, 76, 1995, pp. 343-356
Citations number
67
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry
ISSN journal
00207578
Volume
76
Year of publication
1995
Part
2
Pages
343 - 356
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-7578(1995)76:<343:TAP-CA>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
Though analytic process is a core concept in psychoanalysis, no consen sus definition or reliable method of assessment currently exists. This paper reviews clinical definitions of analytic process and concludes that analytic process is comprised of free association, resistance, in terpretation and working through. Psychoanalytic outcome research sugg ests that analytic process develops in only 40 per cent of analyses. T hough the presence of analytic process is highly correlated with thera peutic benefit, significant numbers of analytic patients (50 per cent) achieve good outcome despite the fact that an analytic process never developed in treatment. A review of process research on the components of analytic process suggests that a variety of measures already exist for free association, resistance, and interpretation. As in the clini cal literature, working through is less well defined and studied. Alth ough several researchers have assessed analytic process using a variet y of techniques, these clinically defined component measures of analyt ic process have not yet been synthesised into a comprehensive scale. S uch a measure of analytic process would have the benefit of being easi ly applied to an adequate sampling of session material and would resul t in a judgement about the presence and quality of analytic process. A consensus definition and the development of a reliable method to asse ss analytic process will be of use in clinical, educational and resear ch settings as well as in attempts to define and quantify psychoanalyt ic treatment.