Amalia X: dialogical sequence analysis as a method in theory-based single case research in psychoanalysis

ABSTRACT

In this article, Dialogical sequence analysis (DSA) is introduced as a method in theory-based single case research. The structure of article is as follows: first, we will describe briefly the historical background of single case studies and their position as the foundation of psychoanalytic knowledge formation. Secondly, we will describe through Amalia X’s case how one psychoanalytic ‘specimen case’ has been used as a cornerstone for a comprehensive psychoanalytic process research model, the so called ‘Ulm model’. Amalia X is one of the most studied single cases internationally also outside psychoanalytic process study field. Thirdly, we will introduce the central theory and practice of DSA. Fourthly, in the last section of our article, we will show in practice how DSA can be used in the analysis of Amalia’s dream in the session 152.

KEYWORDS:

• Dialogical sequence analysis
• microanalytic methods
• single case research
• change process research
• vulnerability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation and The University of Helsinki.

Notes on contributors

Sami Kivikkokangas

Sami Kivikkokangas is a special psychologist, psychodynamic adolescent psychotherapist, supervising and training psychotherapist in integrative psychotherapy, who works as a clinician in public sector and in private practice. As a researcher, he prepares his thesis focusing on change process research in psychoanalysis at the Clinical Research Doctoral School at the University of Helsinki.

Mikael Leiman

Mikael Leiman, PhD is Professor Emeritus of the University of Eastern Finland. He is the founder and developer of Dialogical Sequence analysis. The first version of the tool was published in 1997 and the current version finalised in 2013 after intensive R&D work in counselling with marginalised youth. The next setting to test the tool was at the psychiatric outpatient clinics in Lahti and Kuopio areas in Finland. A randomized clinical study, comparing standard psychiatric assessment and the DSA, was conducted at the clinic in Lahti and is currently being published.