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A case of unorthodox psychoanalysis with a 27-year-old woman, during the years 1994-1998 is presented. The patient, Silja, suffered from severe character neurosis with depression. She studied humanities at the University of Helsinki with poor results, because of severe inner demands of perfection. The therapy was unorthodox, because it was necessary to change the method a few times. After two years of psychoanalysis, a life-threatening crisis occurred in 1996, and I was obliged to take a more active role and even give direct advice concerning her studies. This was successful, and she could achieve her B.A., the lower university degree. The change of method was necessary to avoid suicide. In the end we could resume psychoanalysis and analyse what had happened. Suddenly in the summer of 1998 Silja's depression disappeared and her looks improved. Therapy ended in November 1998, when she was ready to try on her own. According to her both the holding and love and also the direct advice were the most important ...

A psychoanalytically oriented treatment of a middle-aged male schizophrenic patient is described. The therapy lasted for ten years, with a follow-up period of four years. The frequency of sessions was once a week throughout. The patient had been chronically psychotic for five years hearing voices accusing him of masturbation. From the beginning a positive transference with idealization developed. Mutual trust and a sense of communion was an important feature of the therapeutic relationship. Humour played an important part even during the most difficult periods of the patient's psychosis. He came regularly to sessions and was able to finish his studies soon after starting in therapy. The psychosis continued for many years. The pivotal point occurred after six year's of therapy when the patient dared to travel abroad alone and realised that the voices, speaking to him in Finnish, must be hallucinations, as he was surrounded by foreigners who did not know his native language. The economic recession forced th...