title: The formal mode of the science of psychoanalysis: studies of two patient/therapist systems.
abstract: This paper has introduced three mathematically based models that are part of a burgeoning new formal mode of the science of psychoanalysis: (1) The Power Spectral Density Function, which investigates the vicissitudes of cyclical power; (2) Work and Force, which lead to measurement of the instantaneous power of a session; and (3) Entropy or Complexity, a measurement of the accumulated complexity or redundancy of the communications from patients and therapists in the course of a therapy session. An additional statistical measurement was included, that of the Measure of Linear Influence or Cross-Correlation Function, which was used with a ten-minute window. Each of these measurements were applied to quantitative data that involved ratings of five variables of emotional communication: Newness of Themes, Extent of Narrative/Imagery, Positively Toned Themes and Images, Negatively Toned Themes and Images, and Continuity of Dialogue within a therapy. The paper compares two psychotherapies using these four measurements. They differentiated the two treatment situations, revealing distinctive properties of each. The implications of these preliminary results are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Langs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badalamenti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cramer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011572:Psychoanalysis; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D012107:Research Design; D014473:Unconscious, Psychology