ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with just one of the types of treatment – psychodynamic psychotherapy. It also outlines the other main types of treatment. On the whole, the major mental illnesses need to be treated with drugs and social interventions. Chemotherapy is treatment by drugs, powerful chemicals that have been discovered to have an effect on the body or upon the agents of illness. Occupational therapy, protected work settings, or help from a community psychiatric nurse with managing the day-to-day business of life are all forms of social treatment. Psychodynamic therapy is a form of treatment founded upon the ideas and aims of psychoanalysis. Psychotherapy may well help with symptoms but most issues of personal concern cannot be regarded as symptoms in the narrowest sense. Unconsciously and spontaneously, all of people use defences like this throughout the day to protect ourselves from too much anxiety.
