ABSTRACT
The traditional narrative case study or vignette has been the major method of reporting psychoanalytic observations and outcomes since the publication of Freud's cases. There are several advantages to this method. The presenting psychoanalyst is on the scene as the material unfolds and is in a privileged position to know the intricacies of what occurred over a substantial period of time. A case study can summarize large quantities of material and do so in a rich and variegated fashion. Well-written cases allow material to come alive in a compelling way, allowing us to know the unfolding sequence of events, major emergent themes, and the results of the analysis or therapy. By publishing case write-ups, treating therapists permit readers to participate in their sense of discovery and excitement in elaborating new ideas and techniques.
