psychoanalysis

• psychoanalysis

  psychoanalysis is a type of psychodynamic theory commonly used to treat anxiety and depression. psychoanalytic psychologists see psychological problems as rooted in the unconscious mind. symptoms are caused by latent disturbances, typical causes include unresolved issues during development or repressed trauma. freud believed that individual's could be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight. treatment focuses on bringing the repressed conflict to consciousness.
• how does it work?

  during psychoanalytic sessions, the patient lies on a couch with the analyst seated just behind and out of the patient’s line of sight. This setup is believed to facilitate free association, it is expected to allow the patient to speak freely without the immediate reaction or perceived judgment from the therapist. the absence of face-to-face interaction is thought to help patients project their feelings and transferences more easily.
• is it effective?

  psychoanalysis is a lengthy process, involving 2 to 5 sessions per week for several years with the psychoanalyst, due to the nature of defence mechanisms and the inaccessibility of the deterministic forces operating in the unconscious.

  some research suggests it works as well as other psychological treatments such as CBT.
• more about psychoanalysis

  this type of therapy is least favoured due to the fact it is very time consuming. it creates an imbalance and reliance upon a therapist, making the client feel that the therapist has power over them.
• psychoanalysis to control crime

  eysenck found that neurotic patients who were treated with psychoanalysis responded well to it, but only in 44% of cases. meanwhile, 72% of other neurotics were treated successfully in hospitals. this suggests that psychoanalysis is not able to help with traits such as neuroticism, which is commonly found in criminals