No single question raises more of a challenge to dynamic psychotherapy than that of identifying and understanding the critical factors in the curative process that lead to change and cure. What are the seemingly intangible variables that enable patients to overcome symptomatology and maladaptive behaviors, so as to develop and grow as productive human beings?

This volume brings together such eminent therapists, clinicians, and researchers who have contributed new and creative thinking to this area of concern. Their innovative work has led to an advancement of psychoanalytic knowledge and techniques and thereby to more effective approaches in unraveling the components of psychotherapeutic cure. The contributors address themselves to the exploration, definition, and explication of the alternate and often complex avenues that lead to patient change and cure. This book is unique in not being limited to a single theoretical viewpoint, but instead presents and reflects a broad spectrum of current psychoanalytic thought. Diverse theories and approaches are individually discussed and then brought together to provide a beginning integration. Not limited solely to a clinical or research perspective, the book offers ways of evaluating clinical findings through research so as to strengthen the scientific foundations of psychoanalytic theory and technique.

For the clinician, the crucial issues in working with a wide variety of patients are elaborated. Actual case material is included to illustrate how change can be facilitated. The techniques of treatment presented in the book reflect the current state of the art in dynamic psychotherapy. For the researcher, the findings from tachistoscopic studies, the dream laboratory, and outcome studies will be of particular interest. The introduction reviews seminal literature and subsequent developments in psychoanalysis, thus providing a useful historic perspective for both the field in general and for the particular area of expertise of these noted psychoanalysts. The final chapter synthesizes the differing views and findings.