Commentary. Freud in the stroke ward: psychodynamic theory for stroke rehabilitation professionals

Despite the increase in the number of clinical psychologists contributing to stroke care, the psychosocial aspects of rehabilitation will of necessity continue to be addressed by other rehabilitation professionals The clinical psychology of stroke rehabilitation is a growing field, with an extant literature reflecting different theoretical schools of psychotherapy. Psychoanalytic ideas have begun to enter the practice of neurorehabilitation, but with so far little written about stroke specifically.

In this commentary, I provide a brief overview of central themes in psychoanalytic theory, and link them to stroke rehabilitation using clinical vignettes.

I argue that, by bearing strong feelings; attending to multiple communicative channels; considering transference and countertransference; and accepting more fully the pessimistic and despairing aspects of our patients' experiences, we can become more psychologically effective rehabilitation professionals.