The Case of Anna O.

The Case of Anna O.

The story of Anna O. remains to be one of the most studied case studies in the corridors of psychology. Initially reported by Joseph Breuer and Sigmund Freud in their book, ‘Studies on Hysteria,’ provides initial evidence for the importance of psychoanalytic treatment to individuals suffering from mental problems (Jarrett 2015). While Anna enjoyed a healthy life throughout her childhood and teenhood, her tribulations started early in her adulthood. At the age of twenty-one, she developed a series of physical and psychological disturbances that required further analysis by highly qualified psychologists (Jarrett 2015). Indeed, abnormalities in mental processes can be a significant cause of concern for anyone that has enjoyed a healthy life most of the time since birth. Consistently, Anna’s new developments were genuinely something that needed a specialist response.

Anna’s psychological complications were a mixture of multiple abnormalities. She suffered from loss of sensation, rigid paralysis, a series of mental troubles, disturbed eye movements, and restricted vision power (Jarrett 2015). In addition to these initial symptoms, Anna later developed other problems. She experienced problems with her posture, reduced power of speech, and conditions of absence, including alteration of her whole body and delirium (Jarrett 2015). Undoubtedly, the manifestation of such symptoms is a sign of severe illness, probably affecting the brain, thus requiring the intervention of a psychotherapist.

In 1880, Anna sought the help of Breuer, whom she believed could assist her regain her healthy life. At the time, Breuer was aged 38 years old and was a highly respected physician, known for his early achievements in psychology (Borch-Jacobsen 2014). This rich experience was integral to having the background knowledge that would unravel what was ailing Anna. Through his time with her, Breuer later learned that Anna had been nursing her sick further when her symptoms resurfaced (Borch-Jacobsen 2014). In principle, tracing someone’s history is critical in determining the underlying factors for the current problem. Consistently, Breuer’s prolonged time with Anna was essential in unearthing what could have contributed to her eventual mental challenges. Throughout her treatment period, she intensively interacted with Breuer over several hours, enabling him to establish some of the possible issues that led to her tribulations (Borch-Jacobsen 2014). Overall, this approach was vital in informing the appropriate intervention.

At the end of the interactions, Breuer was able to speculate what was ailing Anna. He postulated that she was possibly suffering from emotional problems, which made her display a secondary state of mind with its wealth of imaginative feelings and hallucinations (Van Linschoten 2013). In effect, this outcome confirmed the influence of this unconscious state of mind in causing hysterical behaviours. Thanks to the insights Breuer obtained from Anna; he believed that a meticulous conversation with her was critical to her recovery. Notably, he engaged with her on deep discussions daily about her challenges, eventually enabling her to regain her normal mental health (Van Linschoten 2013). While Anna’s case took place many decades ago, it underlines the significance of undertaking a psychotherapy procedure to examine and treat people’s emotional disorders. In particular, this case highlights the contribution of psychology in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. This essay uses Anna’s case as a point of reference to critically examine the influence of psychotherapy in the treatment of mental health problems.

Contribution of Psychotherapy in Mental Health

The Concept of Psychotherapy

With growing difficulties in treating related mental disorders, the concept of psychotherapy has become critical in bridging this gap. The science of psychology has provided healthcare practitioners with a unique set of techniques and interventions that are aimed at preventing, treating, and rehabilitating dysfunctional behaviours and mental problems (Wittchen, Hartling & Hoyer 2015). Of notable mention is psychotherapy, which is closely related to psychoanalysis. Psychotherapy is conceived as an applied clinical psychological domain discipline that deals with mental treatments and interventions (Wittchen et al. 2015). In this sense, this practice does not focus on modern medication. More precisely, this approach refers to any form of scientifically supported intervention that is based on knowledge and expertise in utilising psychological techniques in addressing dysfunctional behaviours among individuals (Wittchen et al. 2015). Therefore, this definition implies psychotherapy deviates significantly from the use of drugs to treat psychological problems.

Psychotherapy entails a variety of strategies that are employed to respond to people’s behavioural problems. These interventions are intended to address the needs of patients and groups, including their networks of support, and ranges from prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of the victims (Yakeley, Johnston, Adshead & Allison 2016). This scope highlights the significance of having highly specialized skills to utilize this approach in solving people’s mental disorders effectively. According to Yakeley et al. (2016), psychotherapy ranges from highly sophisticated interventions, administered by well-learned practitioners, to the application of specific behavioural strategies as part of the wider treatment plan. Some of the examples of these techniques include psychoeducation and motivational interviewing. Indeed, these examples are a reflection of the approach that Breuer used in his intervention against Anna’s emotional problems. As early as established, he engaged with her in deep conversations about her tribulations, consequently allowing her to recover.

Types of Psychotherapy

Mental practitioners and other mental health professionals utilize multiple types of psychotherapy to respond to specific mental health challenges. The choice of a particular approach depends on the patient’s unique problems and the surrounding circumstances, as well as one’s personal preferences (Parekh & Givon 2019). Like in other fields, practitioners may combine these approaches to achieve better outcomes. Cognitive behavioural therapy is one popularly used strategy in this practice. This approach entails helping the patients to practice new skills in the real world, hence enabling them to identify and change their thinking patterns that are contributing to their present problems (Parekh & Givon 2019). While this technique is useful, it slightly differs from the approach that Breuer used to treat Anna’s conditions. In spite of this divergence, this strategy can still prove critical in helping people with similar challenges.

Interpersonal therapy is another common psychotherapy technique used to address emotional problems. This approach entails conducting interviews with the patient to understand the issues contributing to the illness, thus identifying goals and the treatment plan (Parekh & Givon 2019. This practice shares significant similarities with the intervention that Breuer utilized to treat Anna. As shown early, he held several conversations with her on a daily basis to comprehend what could be contributing to her problems and, as such, determine the appropriate treatment approach. In this sense, Breuer’s intervention mirrors the current practice of interpersonal relationship therapy. Indeed, by spending multiple hours together, Breuer and Anna managed to strike a close relationship that could not be achieved through a shallow meeting.

Additionally, psychotherapists can use psychodynamic therapy to address their clients’ psychological problems. This approach is founded on the idea that behaviours and mental well-being are influenced life-long experiences as well as inappropriate repetitive thoughts or feelings that are beyond an individual’s awareness (Burns & Burns-Lundgren 2015). This scope implies the patient need to work with the specialist to improve self-awareness and to transform old patterns to take control of personal life. Indeed, this approach is a replica of what took place between Anna and Breuer, her therapist. As outlined in the case summary, Breuer focused on having intensive conversations with an intention of making her aware of the issues affecting her. Because of this approach, Anna managed to acknowledge the impact of her experiences with her sick father on her emotional feelings (Borch-Jacobsen 2014). Consistent with the psychodynamic therapy, this technique was critical in raising Anna’s awareness about the underlying factors to her problems, hence enabling her to adopt appropriate response mechanisms.

Furthermore, psychotherapy practitioners can use psychoanalysis to treat related emotional symptoms. This technique is founded on the assumption that all individuals possess unconscious thoughts, beliefs, and aspirations, and to bring these aspects into the conscious awareness requires sharing of experiences with a specialized individual (Yakeley et al. 2016). Therefore, the importance of this process is to enable people to find relief from emotional disturbances and distress. Undoubtedly, this approach is significantly related to the intervention that Breuer utilized in treating Anna’s psychological tribulations. Through deep conversations, Anna managed to share her experiences with Breuer, which eventually allowed her to relieve her distressful behaviours and develop positive practices. Overall, Breuer’s approach to treating Anna’s emotional problems mirrors most of the techniques that contemporary psychotherapists use to address related challenges.