Bridging the gap between neuroscientific and psychodynamic models in child and adolescent psychiatry

• Published in: Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Protopopescu, Xenia, Gerber, Andrew J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Development - physiology; Brain - physiology; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - physiology; Child; Child Development - physiology; Epigenomics; Functional Neuroimaging - methods; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Mental Disorders - genetics; Mental Disorders - physiopathology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental Processes - physiology; Models, Psychological; Neurosciences - methods; Psychoanalysis - methods; Psychotherapy - methods; Repetition Priming; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1558-0490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2012.08.008

This article provides a selective review of the neuroscience and child-psychoanalytic literature, focusing on areas of significant overlap and emphasizing comprehensive theories in developmental neuroscience and child psychoanalysis with testable mechanisms of action. Topics include molecular biology and genetics findings relevant to psychotherapy research, neuroimaging findings relevant to psychotherapy, brain regions of interest for psychotherapy, neurobiologic changes caused by psychotherapy, use of neuroimaging to predict treatment outcome, and schemas as a bridging concept between psychodynamic and cognitive neuroscience models. The combined efforts of neuroscientists and psychodynamic clinicians and theorists are needed to unravel the mechanisms of human mental functioning.