title: The shared field: a precursor stage in the development of a psychotherapeutic alliance with the hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patient.
abstract: Psychotherapeutic work with chronic schizophrenic patients is difficult for both patient and therapist. Such patients lack many of the capacities necessary to participate in psychotherapy: motivation, observing ego, the ability to communicate verbally about thoughts and feelings, the capacity to sustain a relationship. Treatment of such patients may require phases in which such capacities are nurtured until the patient is able to form a therapeutic alliance of the ordinary kind. This paper discusses the ways in which hospitalization can be helpful during pre-alliance phases of psychotherapeutic work, through the provision of a protected setting and a team approach, in conjunction with individual psychotherapy. A perspective is offered for conceptualizing the early relationship between patient and hospital staff as a stage in the development of an alliance.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000379:methods; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D013561:Symbolism