[Reflections and perspectives on institutional therapy in neurotic depressions]. 1978

J Bernes, and Y Prigent

We have found that an institutional psychothérapy for neurosis could benefit by using elements of the work of Winnicott as well as of the bioenergetic and existential movements. This corresponds to a more and more explicit request from depressed patients who are expecting more from their stay in the hospital than simply to recharge their energy. We thought that our department, because of its size, type of patients, staff and its own orientation would be well adapted to an experience of this kind. In our hospital we try to facilitate in the patient: --regressive experiences; --the perception of "being"; --the symbolic and emotional feeling of the reality of time and place and particularity of the body; --the capacity to repair himself; --playing in the sense of Winnicott: playing with the in and the out (of onesself), the positions of the body, verbal play, play of alternation. --Centering on desire on the interior space, with the capacity to be "alone in the presence on another"; --the discovery of "responsability" and "compassion", also in the sense of Winnicott. We must take into consideration that in order to benefit from this type of therapy, there must be a good enough integration and a pain that is authentically experienced, that is, not acted out, not sutured, and without too many defenses. The results can be appreciated only very subjectively, since improvement is of a qualitative order, in the area of development of being serious existentially. We can perhaps envisage another future for the depressed patient than the interminable repetition of relapses or of beign treated indefinitely. This consists of discovering another way of being, more global, more serious, more authentic (real-self), considering the difficulties involved in the engagement of the realself in an already structured existence.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007326 Institutionalization The caring for individuals in institutions and their adaptation to routines characteristic of the institutional environment, and/or their loss of adaptation to life outside the institution. Institutionalized Persons,Institutionalizations,Institutionalized Person,Person, Institutionalized,Persons, Institutionalized
D010553 Personality Development Growth of habitual patterns of behavior in childhood and adolescence. Development, Personality
D011567 Psychiatric Department, Hospital Hospital department responsible for the organization and administration of psychiatric services. Hospital Psychiatric Department,Psychiatric Departments, Hospital,Department, Hospital Psychiatric,Departments, Hospital Psychiatric,Hospital Psychiatric Departments
D011613 Psychotherapy A generic term for the treatment of mental illness or emotional disturbances primarily by verbal or nonverbal communication. Psychotherapies
D012043 Regression, Psychology A return to earlier, especially to infantile, patterns of thought or behavior, or stage of functioning, e.g., feelings of helplessness and dependency in a patient with a serious physical illness. (From APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 1994). Psychological Regression,Regression (Psychology),Psychology Regression
D005086 Existentialism Philosophy based on the analysis of the individual's existence in the world which holds that human existence cannot be completely described in scientific terms. Existentialism also stresses the freedom and responsibility of the individual as well as the uniqueness of religious and ethical experiences and the analysis of subjective phenomena such as anxiety, guilt, and suffering. (APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed.) Existential Psychology,Psychology, Existential
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D005602 France A country in western Europe bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, the Mediterranean Sea, and the countries of Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the principalities of Andorra and Monaco, and by the duchy of Luxembourg. Its capital is Paris. Corsica,Saint Pierre and Miquelon,Miquelon and Saint Pierre,Miquelon and St. Pierre,St. Pierre and Miquelon
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000275 Adjustment Disorders Maladaptive reactions to identifiable psychosocial stressors occurring within a short time after onset of the stressor. They are manifested by either impairment in social or occupational functioning or by symptoms (depression, anxiety, etc.) that are in excess of a normal and expected reaction to the stressor. Anniversary Reaction,Depression, Reactive,Reactive Disorders,Transient Situational Disturbance,Adjustment Disorder,Anniversary Reactions,Depressions, Reactive,Disorder, Adjustment,Disorder, Reactive,Disorders, Adjustment,Disorders, Reactive,Disturbance, Transient Situational,Disturbances, Transient Situational,Reaction, Anniversary,Reactions, Anniversary,Reactive Depression,Reactive Depressions,Reactive Disorder,Situational Disturbance, Transient,Situational Disturbances, Transient,Transient Situational Disturbances

Related Publications

J Bernes, and Y Prigent
January 1965, Duodecim; laaketieteellinen aikakauskirja,
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
January 1979, Psychiatrie, Neurologie, und medizinische Psychologie,
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
May 1963, Zeitschrift fur Psychotherapie und medizinische Psychologie,
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
March 1962, Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde,
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
March 1975, Minerva medica,
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
October 1981, Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica,
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
May 1970, Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946),
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
January 1969, Deutsches medizinisches Journal,
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
September 1970, The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science,
J Bernes, and Y Prigent
December 1962, Vie medicale (Paris, France : 1920),
Copied contents to your clipboard!