Two Primary Configurations of Psychopathology

Abstract

This article critique focuses on the significance of knowing the different thought and personality disorders— their possible causes, definitions, and effects on their subjects or patients— and their impacts on counselors and the counseling profession as a whole. The objectives of this critique are the following: a) to know the value of the article to the field of counseling; b) to identify the value of the article to individual counselors; and c) to analyze the article and find out its significance for future research and studies.

Summary

What were assessed in this study were the changes in three kinds of thought disorder as gauged by Rorschach responses. Assessments took place during concentrated, continuing, psychodynamically oriented inpatient healing (Blatt, Besser & Ford, 1-9). Those subject to the study using Roscharch methods were ninety seriously disturbed patients. Among these treatment-resistant patients, forty-two, who were considered as anaclitic patients, were mostly inattentive with primal problems of interpersonal relatedness and utilized avoidant resistance. On the other hand, the other forty-eight, who were introjective patients, were mostly inattentive with primal problems of self-meaning and self-esteem and utilized remedial resistance. All the patients underwent about fifteen months of treatment.

Based on the result of the study, alteration in the anaclitic patients transpired mostly in more pathological types of mental disarray, which can be characterized by confabulations and contaminations, which articulate border disorders. On the other hand, introjective patients also experience changes, but this happened mostly in less distressed thought disarray which conveys inclinations toward referential thoughts (Blatt, Besser & Ford, 1-9).

Value of the Article to the Field of Counseling

This study contributes significant impacts on the field of counseling. First, it updates counselors with the different developments in the field of psychiatry and the diverse kinds of personality disorders. Thus, it is important for counselors to be attentive to the new development in psychiatry and to know the different kinds of personality or thought disorders. In this study, experts in the field categorize them into two— anaclitic and introjective. Second, this study puts much premium on the moral and ethical responsibilities of campus counselors on how to assist or provide proper counseling to people who are suffering from thought disorder.

The field of counseling is imbued with ethical obligation to address the concerns and issues confronting people with these unique kinds of though illness. Failure to do this duty may aggravate the sufferings of young people and adults who are not aware of their psychiatric or psychological conditions. The role now of school counselors is to provide proper and sufficient counseling to effected young people and adults.

Value of the Article to My Development as a Counselor

The study serves as guidance on what to do when dealing with people who are suffering from different kinds of thought or personality disorder. In doing counseling interventions, counselors must be attentive to the movements and actions of the counselee. Counselors must also be familiar and update themselves with the new development in the field of psychiatry by knowing the different kinds of mental illnesses and personality disorders. This will guide them on how to deal with people who experience depression or people who are emotionally and mentally disturbed. Thus, if counselors have enough knowledge of the kinds of mental and personality disorders, they would be able to know how to engage and handle people who are experiencing the same.

Ideas for New Research

There is a need to continue the study in the field of psychiatry not only for the purpose of knowing the new types of mental and personality illnesses today, but because of the need to find and look for their solutions and treatment. Nowadays, there are a lot of existing factors that may cause depression and personality disorders. It is important to know these causes and the reason why people succumb to them. On the part of counselors, they are also duty-bound to contribute to this development by adapting to the changes in the personality of their patients and trying to understand their problems and conditions.

Source: Blatt, S.J., Besser, A. & Ford, R.Q. (2007). Two Primary Configurations of Psychopathology and Change in Though Disorder in Long-Term Intensive Inpatient Treatment of Seriously Disturbed Young Adults. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 164,10, 1-9.