“This book is a sequel to the edited book Dangerous Patients: A Psychodynamic Approach to Risk Assessment and Management. It brings together clinicians who specialise in various aspects of forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy in order to consider the difficult and problematic issues of dangerousness and murder. This particular volume places the emphasis on working in psychodynamic psychotherapy with patients that have killed in order to gain a greater understanding of their internal world and object relationships. I am proposing that by entering into the intensity of the clinical experience itself, meeting and facing the feelings as they emerge within the microcosm of the transference and countertransference, provides an 'experience based' opportunity for therapist and patient to discover and explore the violence, both conscious and unconscious, within a safe environment.”
--Ronald Doctor, from the Introduction “...I am delighted to welcome this book, which shines a bright light on a murky world. The contributors attempt to understand the origins of murder, but they also deal with the detail of treatment and show us how professionals are affected by powerful psychological forces. The impartial detachment of the observer/supervisor is an artificial construct, and once we realise that we will be in a better position to do the job properly. The approach is psychodynamic but there is plenty here to stimulate non-believers. In fact, the book is a challenge to the world of cognitive behavioural therapy; there is more to murder than relapse prevention. It made me think, and what more can you ask?”
--Tony Maden Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Imperial College London, from the Foreword Contributors: Peter Aylward and Gerald Wooster, Gwen Adshead, Sarita Bose and Julia Cartwright, Ronald Doctor, Philip Lucas, Maggie McAlister, Tony Maden, Anna Motz. Ronald Doctor is a Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy and Forensic Psychotherapy at the West London Mental Health NHS Trust. He trained at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and is a member of the British Psychoanalytical Society. He was formerly a Visiting Psychiatrist at HM Wormwood Prisons. He is Chair of the Association for Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy, Academic Secretary of the Psychotherapy Faculty, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and Hon. Secretary of the NHS Liaison Committee of the British Psychoanalytical Society. He has edited a book: Dangerous Patients: A Psychodynamic Approach to Risk Assessment and Management, Karnac, 2003. Contents Introduction--Ronald Doctor; 1) Life after Death: a group for people who havekilled--Gwen Adshead, Sarita Bose and Julia Cartwiright; 2) Murder: persecuted by jealousy--Peter Aylward and Gerald Wooster; 3) Women who kill: When fantasy becomes reality.--Anna Motz; 4) Killing off the shadow: the role of projective identification in murderous acts--Maggie McAlister; 5) The history of murder--Ronald Doctor; 6) The dog that didn’t bark: a mild man’s murderousness--Philip Lucas. “Original and perceptive, the essays in this collection help to illuminate this difficult but fascinating area. The book opens a door on the normally sequestered world of perpetrator and therapist within secure institutions. It will assist all interested practitioners to improve their understanding of the formidable difficulties of therapeutic work in this challenging patient group.”
-- Dr David Reiss, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist; Director of Forensic Psychiatry Education, West London Mental Health NHS Trust; Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Imperial College, London ”This collection of valuable contributions from clinicians describes how psychodynamic theory and practice can lead to the deeper understanding of violence and offender behaviour, and in particular the act of murder, and the consequences of their behaviour. I am sure that professionals involved in this area of forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy will find it an extremely helpful guide and I would highly recommend it.”
-- Dr Gabriel Kirtchuk, Lead Clinician for the National Forensic Psychotherapy Training and Development Strategy Consultant Psychiatry in Psychotherapy |
