Psychotherapy with a schizophrenic woman

Summary

The authors describe the resolution of a schizophrenic illness in a female patient aged 41 years, during psychotherapy of a modified type. The treatment followed a pre-arranged plan in which the therapist had considerable faith. The patient progressed from an oral to an anal, and finally to a genital or “neo-neurotic,” phase. The authors feel that pre-verbal factors in the relationship influenced the course of the illness.