Between Dependency and Addiction

ABSTRACT

The present paper suggests the existence of two axes of human development: the axis of dependence, associated with human connectedness and the axis of addiction, associated with using inanimate objects to fulfill one’s needs. A crucial role of the analyst who treats people with addictions is to promote movement toward the axis of dependence. These ideas are illustrated in reports of psychoanalysis with two very disturbed patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychoanalysis
• axes of development
• defensesatemporal unconscious
• countertransference
• addiction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. (For the purpose of confidentiality, this is a composite case.)

Additional information

Notes on contributors

José Alberto Zusman

José Alberto Zusman graduated with a degree in Medicine at the Federal Fluminense University (UFF): 1979–1985 (MD); held a Medical Residency at the Psychiatry Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IPUB / UFRJ): 1986–1988; and has completed completed a Master Degree in Psychiatry: 1990–1993 and a Doctorate in Psychoanalysis: 1996–2000. He completed Analytical IPA Training: 1992–2004 at the Rio III Association 1992–2004, IPA Training Analyst. He has been a Professor since 2006 at Rio III Association, as well as at at the Rio de Janeiro Psychoanalytic Society since 2010, and has been Professor of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Bunch at the Psychiatric Residency at the IPUB/UFRJ since 2000.