Internetchatgruppen in Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik

Zusammenfassung  In Zusammenarbeit mit der Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) und der Panorama-Fachklinik für Psychosomatik, Psychotherapeutische Medizin und Naturheilverfahren Scheidegg/Allgäu hat die Forschungsstelle für Psychotherapie das Projekt Internetbrücke initiiert. Die Patienten erhielten im Anschluss an ihre stationäre Behandlung das Angebot, für 12–15 Wochen an einer Gruppe teilzunehmen, die sich in einem speziell eingerichteten Chatraum wöchentlich traf. Das Projekt hatte die Ziele: (a) eine geeignete Internetumgebung für eine vertrauliche Kommunikation aufzubauen und deren Praktikabilität zu testen sowie (b) die Akzeptanz durch die Patienten und die Wirksamkeit zu evaluieren. Zur Evaluation wurde eine prospektive kontrollierte Studie durchgeführt. Chatteilnehmer (n=114) wurden mit einer gematchten Vergleichsgruppe (n=114) hinsichtlich ihres Gesundheitszustands ein halbes Jahr nach der Klinikentlassung verglichen. Die Technik erwies sich als robust und nutzerfreundlich. Das Angebot wurde sehr positiv von den Patienten aufgenommen; dies drückte sich u. a. in der niedrigen Abbruchrate (9,4%) und der hohen Akzeptanz (83,7% der Chatteilnehmer hielten eine Internetbrücke für sinnvoll) aus. Die Chatteilnehmer konnten die während der stationären Behandlung erreichten positiven Entwicklungen – gemessen mit dem globalen Kriterium der Stuttgart-Heidelberger Qualitätssicherung – besser erhalten als die Vergleichsgruppe (p<0,05). Es zeigten sich Vorteile für die Chatteilnehmer im Hinblick auf das psychische Befinden, während die Unterschiede im körperlichen Befinden eher gering waren. Die Konsequenzen für die psychosoziale Versorgung werden diskutiert.

Eastern observers cannot inhibit their gaze to eye and nose regions in face perception

It has been found that Western observers cannot inhibit their gaze to the eye region, even if they are told to avoid doing so when they observe face stimuli because of the importance of the eye region. However, studies indicate that the nose region is more important for face processing among Eastern observers. We used the “don’t look” paradigm with Eastern observers, in which participants were told to avoid fixating on a specific region (eye, nose, and mouth). The results extend previous findings as both the eye and nose regions attracted their gaze. Interestingly, the fixation behaviors differed for the eyes and nose in terms of the time-dependent view, in which reflexive saccades to the eye with a persistent fixation to the nose were observed. The nose regions could have stronger attractiveness than previously thought.     

The glow of Telesphoros: a brief enquiry into the sense of the term ‘mana personality’ and the dynamic of experiences behind it

In this article, I begin by outlining the qualities and attributes associated with experiences of mana, focusing particularly on the way the term ‘mana’ was used by C.G. Jung in his published work. I note that Jung associated mana with the accumulation and transfer of psychic energy (libido), with the appearance and appropriation of elemental fire, and by extension, with the metamorphic experience of constellating consciousness. In this context, informed by Jung’s accounts and modes of expression, the term mana personality becomes a provisional designation for a recurrent dynamic of archetypal experiential configurations whose telos appears to be the reorientation of consciousness to its origin.     

The wrong side of history

Psychoanalysis (including analytical psychology), once a pioneering and forward‐looking movement of the early 20^th century has now become a conservative backward‐looking ‘tradition’. After considering some of the internal problems associated with this historical change such as idealization and tribalism, some ways forward are suggested – a focus on clinical excellence as practical craft, openness to the unknown and engagement with others beyond the confines of private practice.     

V.A. Smirnov’s Results in the Field of Modern Formal Logic

This paper is a survey of V.A. Smirnovs main results in modern logic.     

Opportunities of online analysis1

The question of whether tele-analysis is an acceptable way of conducting analysis has been discussed since it has become available. Merchant (2016) and others concluded that ‘the essentials of a genuine analytic process are not necessarily precluded’ (p. 1). In this paper, the author goes a step further and examines potential advantages of tele-analysis. There may be benefits for patients with a history of physical or sexual abuse who value the distance. The potential for a ‘safe place’ for work with erotic transference is also examined. In a further section the author is interested in allowing the analyst the freedom to practise in an authentic way, congruent with their personality. Also explored is the concept of the interactive field including the technological medium, which is subject to synchronistic events. Finally, the author gives examples of a deep connection between patient and analyst which came about despite the physical distance.     

Some Questions Raised by the Practice of Online Analysis1

In this paper the author explores some of the issues raised by the practice of online analysis. In particular, he emphasizes the difference between the setting and the frame and proposes a theoretical approach of the latter as emerging within the transferential dynamic.     

The use of Skype in analysis and training: a research and literature review

Of recent years there has not only been an increasing use of Skype in analytic treatment, supervision and teaching, but also a number of writers have been endeavouring to assess its effectiveness. Whilst it is generally agreed that Skype can facilitate an analytic encounter where distance prohibits a face‐to‐face process, where continuity needs to be maintained and where analysands are in areas far from specialized centres, there is divergence in the literature as to whether analysis, as opposed to psychotherapy, can be successful using Skype. This paper reviews the literature and concludes that the essentials of a genuine analytic process are not necessarily precluded by Skype. One central reason is because there exists a cross‐modal communication channel between the human senses (underpinned by audiovisual mirror neurons) in addition to the recently discovered instinct for communication and interpersonal understanding, and these can override the need for physical proximity of the participants. The essentials of an analytic frame can thus be maintained, and the continuity that Skype enables means that containment is also facilitated and this counters the negative aspects of shuttle analysis. The critical issues for the profession then become the professional development for practitioners in the use of Skype and suggestions are listed.