W. Ruff et S. Leikert, THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOTIC-PATIENTS - 1 0 YEARS AFTER PSYCHIATRIC-PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT IN A HOSPITALIZED SETTING, Nervenarzt, 65(5), 1994, pp. 323-328
We report on a catamnestic study, based on the principles of process-o
riented therapy-research, in which patients were interviewed in a semi
open way 10 years after their hospital-treatment. Based on our findin
gs we may establish that further developments of neurotic and psychoti
c patients can be influenced by the choice of therapeutic method, alth
ough in a different way. For both groups of patients the influence of
conflict-centered, psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy can exert
itself in a progressive way often only in a crisis, some time after t
he hospital-treatment. A qualifying condition for the choice of this t
herapeutic method in working with psychotic patients is the achievemen
t of a sufficient ego-stability by the patient. Provided this has been
respected, there is still a fundamental difference between the post-t
herapeutic crisis in neurotic and in pychotic patients: whereas for th
e neurotic it occurs in the process of working-through his internal co
nflict, for the psychotic patient it is caused by external influences.
Some necessary conditions for the patient in mastering such a crisis
in a progressive way are described.