Review of La psychotherapie dans ses differents modes

I. H. Coriat
1908 The Journal of Abnormal Psychology  
Reviews 139 best seen in the strange anomalies of character, the general features of the mental dissociation and the narrowing of the field of consciousness, symptoms which are common to the two diseases. I. H. CoMAT LA PSYCHOTHERAPIE DANS SES DIFFERENTS MODES. By A. W. Van Renterghem, Amsterdam, 1907, pp 184 A CCORDING to the author of this interesting little monograph, the psychological treatment of disease can be grouped into three different classes: First, psychotherapeutics proper, in
more » ... we console and encourage the patient, arouse in him the hope of a cure and attempt to remove from his mind his anxieties and morbid ideas. Second, psychic and motor re-education. Here we appeal to the intelligence of the patient, explain and analyze his particular disease to him, eliminate popular medical fallacies from his mind, modify his general mental attitude and in addition train certain muscles or muscular groups along normal coordinated lines. Third, direct suggestion, in which we attack the symptoms directly and implant in the mind the psychic image of cure. The author then passes to a detailed discussion of hypnosis and replies to the various criticisms which condemn hypnotic suggestion. He does not agree with Dejerine and Dubois. in substituting persuasion for suggestion. As the result of his own long experience he reaffirms the absolute innocuousneis and freedom from danger of hypnotic suggestion in the hands of properly trained and properly qualified individuals. In many of the neuroses, hypnosis is not only more effective than persuasion, but its use actually lessens the period of treatment. This is a point of importance as many nervous patients are liable to become easily discouraged during a long course **f treatment. In hysteria, neurasthenia, melancholia, obsess' % and hypochondriacal states, insomnia, phobias, etc. -treatment by suggestion is far more effective than treatment by persuasion. The author isolates his patient amid quiet and soothing surroundings and treats each patient individually contrary to Wetterstrand's practice In spite of his criticism of
doi:10.1037/h0064114 fatcat:wevpl3zg3bgrxbvcq77uymqczu