Dallas Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology
SPRING WORKSHOP

Saturday March 24, 2001
City Place Conference Center
2711 N. Haskell at Central Expressway
Dallas, Texas -- Ground Level
8:30 AM to 3 PM

Drew Westen

Participants in DSPP's Spring Workshop with Dr. Drew Westen will find our beliefs about the validity of some aspects of psychoanalytic thinking challenged. At the same time, we will enjoy a frontal attack on the efficacy of the so-called "empirically validated therapies" in comparison to psychoanalytic approaches. Dr. Westen is an equal opportunity critic of mushy thinking on all fronts. Yet, at the end of the day, we will find that he is one of the most persuasive advocates for the psychoanalytic position working and lecturing in the field today. In addition, he is a very effective ambassador for psychoanalytic thought in larger academic and public venues including in his numerous commentaries on psychological issues for National Public Radio.
Formerly an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Westen is currently a Research Associate Professor at Boston University. He holds degrees from Harvard U., the U. of Sussex, and the U. of Michigan, where he was twice chosen the best teaching professor at the university. His primary interests are: research in personality disorders, empirical refinement of psychoanalytic models, and integration of aspects of psychoanalytic theory with cognitive neuroscience. His number of scientific publications is approaching one hundred.
Dr. Westen's facile mind and quicksilver tongue, combined with his renowned wit and mastery of verbal repartee make him a must-hear presenter. He is a professor with wide-ranging interests, a stand-up comic, and a rapid-fire speaker -- a winning combination. Don't miss this one!

A prevalent view is that we have a set of empirically supported or validated therapies (EVTs) to be preferred to the kinds of psychotherapy typically practiced in the community including psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Dr. Westen's paper critically examines the empirical basis of this view and associated attempts by some people to discredit psychoanalytic approaches by comparison. He describes assumptions underlying the methodology of EVTs: that psychological processes are highly malleable and treatable with brief interventions; that most patients have one discrete symptom or can be treated as if they do; and that psychological symptoms can be treated as if they are independent of enduring personality dispositions. He re-examines the empirical basis of short-term manualized therapies, distinguishing initial response from real efficacy. The data suggest that some short-term treatments produce impressive initial responses, but most patients remain subclinically symptomatic, relapse, or seek additional treatment. Also, the typical efficacy study excludes 2/3 of the patients due to subclinical disorders or comorbid conditions. Such patients are the norm in clinical practice, and their difficulties lead, empirically, to substantially longer, more complex and in-depth treatments. The paper finally addresses how to proceed to empirical knowledge of what actually works for whom.

AFTERNOON SESSION

The Language of Psychoanalytic Discourse

Dr. Westen's paper focuses on the implicit rules that guide psychoanalytic thought and discourse. He will describe five problematic aspects of this implicit grammar and ways of refining them. First, we need to articulate conceptual multiplicity where we too often use unitary constructs such as the unconscious. We should specify mechanisms rather than causally ambiguous descriptions, such as "two unconsciouses talking to one another." We should avoid using terms in overdetermined ways that lead to theoretical imprecision and confusion of theory and metaphor. In addition, we need to exercise greater caution in the use of developmental constructs and analogies, particularly from infancy. Finally, we must rethink the nature and presentation of evidence in psychoanalytic discourse.

DSPP's workshops are approved for 5 continuing education credits, category 1, by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.  DSPP is also approved as a sponsor of continuing education credits by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Social Workers and for Licensed Professional Counselors by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Licensed Professional Counselors.

Location Map

City Place Conference Center
2711 N. Haskell at Central Expressway

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Dr. Westen will also present "What's Wrong with Axis II: a Critique and Alternative" at the Psychiatry Grand Rounds at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas on Friday, March 23, 2001

Dr. Westen's Home Page

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