Sanford L. Drob

Organic brain syndrome in three cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Abstract A triad of psychiatric symptoms involving mood disturbance, thought disorder with grandiose delusions, and severe memory deficits is described for three male homosexual patients suffering from acquired immume deficiency syndrome. The evidence suggests that the last two of these symptoms are inexplicable on the basis of previous psychiatric history or as a reaction to medical illness. Rather, an organic brain syndrome may be part of the natural history of AIDS for some patients.

Identifying dissociative identity disorder: a self-report and projective study.

This study compared 21 female adult psychiatric patients diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) with 21 female adult nondissociative psychiatric patients to determine whether DID patients exhibit a distinguishing set of clinical features, and perceptual, attentional, and cognitive processes. Participants were assessed with the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule to assess diagnostic status. Group scores on the Dissociative Experiences Scale, Tellegen Absorption Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Rorschach test were compared. DID participants reported earlier and more severe childhood trauma, more dissociative symptoms, and a greater propensity for altered states of consciousness. The DID participants also exhibited increased projective and imaginative activity, a diminished ability to integrate mental contents, a complex and driven cognitive style, and a highly unconventional view of reality.

Time-Limited Group Treatment of Genital Herpes Patients

This article discusses short-term group psychotherapy with individuals suffering from an adjustment reaction or reactive depression precipitated by genital herpes. The authors describe their experi...

Brief group psychotherapy for herpes patients: A preliminary study

Three time-limited group interventions for patients with genital herpes were compared: a cognitive-behavioral stress-management approach, a dynamically oriented psychotherapy approach, and a self-help approach. A posttherapy questionnaire was administered to all subjects to assess the relative impacts of the different treatment approaches and the therapeutic factors which subjects perceived as most salient in each form of treatment. Subjects in the cognitive-behavioral stress-management groups reported greater benefits than subjects in both other conditions. It is suggested that the high degree of structure and goal orientation which characterize this approach may produce superior results, at least when the group experience is time limited.

Two models of brief group psychotherapy for herpes sufferers

The psychological consequences that often follow from contracting genital herpes fall into four general categories: sexual functioning, interpersonal relations, emotional life, and self-esteem. After detailing these, a rationale for treating genital herpes sufferers in group is offered, and then two models for the time-limited group treatment of this population are described. The first is a cognitive behavioral stress management program which has three component parts: relaxation training, rational-emotive training, and assertiveness training. The second is a dynamically oriented group in which the group focus shifts over time from the difficulties associated with the disease itself to general exploration of interpersonal styles and themes. Some comparisons between the two models are drawn.

The Depth of the Soul: James Hillman’s Vision of Psychology

James Hillman’s vision of psychology is explored and commented on. Hillman’s deconstruction of psychological theory and his critique of humanistic psychology are considered against the background of several of his foundational ideas: the deepening of the soul, personification and the “world soul,” image, and myth as the language of the psyche, the function of narrative, honoring psychopathology, psychological polytheism, and the deconstruction of the ego. Several of Hillman’s more controversial ideas are critiqued, and the relationship of Hillman’s ideas to Hegel’s philosophy is explored. It is concluded that Hillman’s vision of psychology is far more humanistic than he himself acknowledges.

Jung and the Kabbalah.

Jungs use of Kabbalistic symbols and ideas as well as his personal Kabbalistic vision are critically examined. It is argued that as great as Jungs acknowledged affinity is to the Kabbalah, his unacknowledged relationship was even greater. Jung has been accused of being a contemporary Gnostic; however, the interpretations Jung placed on Gnosticism and the texts Jung referred to on alchemy were profoundly Kabbalistic, so much so that one would be more justified in calling the Jung of the Mysterium Coniunctionis and other late works a Kabbalist in contemporary guise. Although Jung, at least during the 1930s, appears to have had powerful motives that limited his receptivity to Jewish ideas, his highly ambivalent and at times reproachable attitude toward Judaism should not prevent one from appreciating the affinities between Jungian psychology and Jewish mystical thought.