[Regression: the development of the term and its meaning for therapeutic concepts]

The position of regression in the frame work of classical psychoanalysis is referred. Its term has been extended gradually since desolving out of the frame of psychopathology by Kris 1952 (Regression in the service of the Ego). Today regression can be understood as an ubiquitous phaenomenon in the individual and in social organism. Beyond the regression in the service of the ego (today in a more expended sense) regression stands in the service of adaptation and of recreation. Metapsychologically speaking regression can be considered as an at any time in latency readily kept mental reactionmatrix even in the "healthy" individuum. Ego-regression can manifest itself in diverse ego cernals with different grades of maturity and regressive tendencies. Partial regression is frequent and accompanied by reciprocal progression. The treatment of borderlines, basis disturbances and narcistic neuroses needs the empathetic but controlled regression of the psychoanalysist to the level of preverbal communication and to allow the patient a therapeutic regression. Psychoanalytic research on regression gives way to conceptualize advanced psychotherapeutic methods in border areas of psychoanalysis and should be promoted moreover.