The Contributions of Gaetano Benedetti MD to the Psychotherapy of Persons Experiencing Distressing "Psychotic" States

This presentation will review the significant contributions of Gatano Benedetti to the individual psychotherapy of persons experiencing annihilation anxieties as well as distressing “psychotic” states. Professor Gaetano... [ view full abstract ]

This presentation will review the significant contributions of Gatano Benedetti to the individual psychotherapy of persons experiencing annihilation anxieties as well as distressing “psychotic” states. Professor Gaetano Benedetti has been working as a psychoanalyst with individuals diagnosed with “schizophrenia” for over 50 years in his capacity as psychotherapist, supervisor, and teacher at the Burghölzli, the psychiatric hospital of the University of Zürich, Switzerland. Subjects to be discussed include, but are not limited to: the therapeutic symbiosis; the transitional subject; progressive psychopathology; therapeutic counteridentification; and transforming therapeutic images. In addition, reference will be made to specific subjects in contemporary research in genetics, epigenetics and neurobiology in “psychotic” disorders and chronic traumatic stress and how Professor Benedetti’s theories and psychotherapeutic work might relate to such.