[Towards a programmed psychotherapy: narcissistic depression]

The paper discusses the importance of developing specific psychotherapeutic approaches for the different psychopathological syndromes. It is stated that whether Psychotherapy deserves to be considered a science and not as a mere art will depend upon the formulation of goals and strategies in more definitive way, setting aside the general formulas we have up to now. Narcisistic Depression is taken as an example of the possibility of a planned psychotherapy. The psychopathology of depression is reviewed, and it is stated that the syndrome occurs when the following four conditions are present simultaneously: a) Discordance between the Self-representation and the Ideal Ego. b) A pattern of thinking in which the logic of all or nothing is at work. c) Certain traits are taken as if they were the whole Self-representation. d) A mood of hopelessness and helplessness. Several strategies for dealing with these four conditions are presented.