The development of psychology as a separate branch of medicine is largely due to the contributions made by well-known psychoanalysts and theorists who have developed various concepts and approaches. One of such outstanding figures as Sigmund Freud, who is the author of many concepts and hypotheses concerning human psychology. In particular, his theory of psychoanalysis regarding patients with schizophrenia syndrome has become one of the most fundamental. In this paper, the author’s approaches to this ailment are considered, and the ways of applying the specific observations of human behavior are discussed.
The Main Idea of Freud’s Schizoaffective Psychoanalysis
The work of Sigmund Freud is based on attracting the inner motives of people to assess their psychological state. According to Aiello and Ahmad (2014), the renowned psychoanalyst could not help all patients without exception since he believed that some challenges were severe obstacles complicating the treatment process. In particular, Freud found it difficult to care for those who suffered from severe forms of psychosis “because of their lack of transference and narcissistic withdrawal” (Aiello & Ahmad, 2014, p. 328). However, regarding such a mental illness as schizophrenia, the psychoanalyst achieved significant success and used his own approaches to interacting with patients.
Various theorists consider schizophrenia one of the mental disorders that strongly influence behavioral factors and imply changes in consciousness, and Freud “struggled to find recognition for his new concepts in academic psychiatry” (Maatz, Hoff, & Angst, 2015, p. 44). His work was aimed at finding techniques that could return an unhealthy person to normal life through a search for motives rather than eliminating symptoms. As Maatz et al. (2015) argue, this psychoanalytic theory was first met with skepticism.
However, in the future, Freud’s approaches arouse interest among the medical community, and today, many of the scientist’s developments are taken into account when diagnosing schizophrenia. One of the psychoanalyst’s main ideas is that this ailment is not a brain disorder but a disease in the unconscious state caused by unresolved homosexual feelings. However, he acknowledged that psychoanalysis was not recommended for work with patients who had this diagnosis because they ignored psychotherapists’ insights and resisted treatment. These principles are the basis of Freud’s schizoaffective psychoanalysis and his approaches to working on this disease.
Freud’s Theory Application to the Observations of Human Behavior
The considered theory may be used as a method of observing human behavior both in the conditions of healthcare facilities and at home. If a person shows too harsh and even aggressive attempts to prove his or her opinions, it is a serious reason to seek help from a medical specialist. Despite Freud’s opinion that patients with schizophrenia are not very susceptible to treatment because of ignoring medical prescriptions, positive results can be achieved in the period of remission when the disease recedes temporarily. In general, the theory of psychoanalysis in the context of this mental disorder may be used for identifying dissociative behavioral factors and damages to consciousness.
Conclusion
The theory of schizoaffective psychoanalysis developed by Sigmund Freud may help to identify the disorder at an early stage and apply specific treatment procedures both in clinics and at home. This concept can be used as a way of monitoring the behavioral factors of people and any possible deviations. Freud’s contribution to the development of psychoanalysis is significant, and his approaches are still relevant in the medical community.
References
Aiello, G., & Ahmad, S. (2014). Community-based psychodynamic group psychotherapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 20(5), 323-329.
Maatz, A., Hoff, P., & Angst, J. (2015). Eugen Bleuler’s schizophrenia – A modern perspective. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(1), 43-49.