THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOTIC-PATIENTS - 1 0 YEARS AFTER PSYCHIATRIC-PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT IN A HOSPITALIZED SETTING

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.