A path‐analytic strategy to analyze psychoanalytic treatment effects

Abstract

This paper introduces a path‐analytic strategy to analyze psychoanalytic treatment effects. A simple causal model is used to analyze a well‐known case study by Charles Brenner. Application of even this simple model to the case study sharpens causal inferences that may be validly made, highlights important aspects of the psychoanalytic process and builds a foundation for further model development.

Key words:

• case study analyses
• causal analyses
• elimination of rival hypotheses
• path analysis