From Clinical Case Reports to Empirical and Theoretical Approaches in Neuropsychoanalysis

Research in neuropsychoanalysis has been supported by different methods that are crucial to stimulate rich discussions. From quantitative to qualitative studies, topics of interest are investigated from different perspectives. In addition, theory is enriched by empirical findings, and vice versa. In this issue of the journal, we have a number of important contributions using different approaches to further develop neuropsychoanalytic ideas. It is our pleasure to present Otto Kernberg’s response to commentaries on his important and elegant Target Article, which appeared in the previous issue of the Journal, entitled “Some Implications of New Developments in Neurobiology for Psychoanalytic Object Relations Theory” (Kernberg, 2022). Dr. Kernberg has, in recent years, been developing an increased interest in neuropsychoanalysis; in the Article, we see an advanced sophistication and creative contribution to that discipline emerging from his own development of object relations theory. In recent writing, he describes the numerous connections between the two models, which now can be seen as enriching each other. The Target Article was followed by thirteen very interesting commentaries by leading minds in our field, producing a rich and complex view of his recently developed model. Time and space considerations made it useful to present his response to the commentaries in this issue of the Journal. Dr. Kernberg is clearly appreciative of the wide theoretical range in the commentaries, and he gives real thought to responding to both the agreement and the questions raised by the commentators. We learn a great deal from this dialogue.

In our Original Articles section, we have two rich papers which emerge from qualitative and quantitative approaches, respectively. First, Lawrence Fischman has provided us with an exciting, informative and educational article in an emerging area of neuropsychoanalytical clinical interest. The phenomenon of psychedelic insight is explored through th