The formal mode of the science of psychoanalysis: studies of two patient/therapist systems

This paper has introduced three mathematically based models that are part of a burgeoning new formal mode of the science of psychoanalysis: (1) The Power Spectral Density Function, which investigates the vicissitudes of cyclical power; (2) Work and Force, which lead to measurement of the instantaneous power of a session; and (3) Entropy or Complexity, a measurement of the accumulated complexity or redundancy of the communications from patients and therapists in the course of a therapy session. An additional statistical measurement was included, that of the Measure of Linear Influence or Cross-Correlation Function, which was used with a ten-minute window. Each of these measurements were applied to quantitative data that involved ratings of five variables of emotional communication: Newness of Themes, Extent of Narrative/Imagery, Positively Toned Themes and Images, Negatively Toned Themes and Images, and Continuity of Dialogue within a therapy. The paper compares two psychotherapies using these four measurements. They differentiated the two treatment situations, revealing distinctive properties of each. The implications of these preliminary results are discussed.