Selected papers on hysteria and other psychoneurosesFreud, Sigmund
Science
Selected papers on hysteria and other psychoneuroses
Freud, Sigmund
Hysteria; Neuroses; Psychoanalysis
I, therefore, find it important to separate the hysterical part in the
pictures of the mixed neuroses from neurasthenia, anxiety neurosis,
etc., for after this separation I can express concisely the therapeutic
value of the cathartic method. I would venture to assert
that—principally—it can readily dispose of any hysterical symptom,
whereas, as can be easily understood, it is perfectly powerless in the
presence of neurasthenic phenomena, and can only seldom, and through
detours, influence the psychic results of the anxiety neurosis. Its
therapeutic efficacy in the individual case will depend on whether or
not the hysterical components of the morbid picture can claim a
practical and significant position in comparison to the other neurotic
components.
Another limitation placed on the efficacy of the cathartic method we
have already mentioned in our “Preliminary Communication.” It does not
influence the causal determinations of hysteria, and hence it can not
prevent the origin of new symptoms in the place of those removed. Hence,
on the whole, I must claim a prominent place for our therapeutic method
in the realm of the therapy of neuroses, but I would caution against
attaching any importance to it, or putting it into practice outside of
this connection. As I am unable to give here a “Therapy of Neuroses” as
would be required by the practicing physician, the preceding statements
are put on a level with the deferred reference to a later communication;
still, for purposes of discussion and elucidation, I can add the
following remarks:
1. I do not claim that I have actually removed all the hysterical
symptoms which I have undertaken to influence by the cathartic method,
but I believe that the obstacles were due to the personal circumstances
of the cases, and not to the general principles. In passing sentence,
these cases of failure may be left out of consideration, just as the
surgeon puts aside all cases who die as a result of narcosis,
hemorrhage, accidental sepsis, etc., when deciding upon a new technique.
I will again consider the failures of such origin in my later
discussions on the difficulties and drawbacks of this method.
2. The cathartic method does not become valueless simply because it is
symptomatic and not causal. For a causal therapy is really in most cases
only prophylactic; it stops the further progress of the injury, but it
does not necessarily remove the products which have already resulted
from it. To do this it requires, as a rule, a second agent, and in cases
of hysteria the cathartic method is really unsurpassable for such
purposes.
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