DISCUSSION: Dr. George Gero observed that it was not clear whether the energy referred to was libidinal, aggressive, or an undifferentiated somatic, vital one. The concept that depletion of energy following object loss serves a useful purpose, he felt, was a teleological one, since an impoverishment of energy is inherent in every neurotic process. The point of view of energetics, so close to a somatic, organic concept of depression, is less valuable than a dynamic, genetic one. With the introduction of drugs in the treatment, the opportunity for psychoanalytic observation no longer exists since it raises questions as to what changes are attributable to the intervention in the analysis, and what to the effect of the drug. He was in agreement with the differentiation between depression following object loss and that due to loss of self-esteem.

Dr. Victor Rosen believed that Freud's idea of impoverishment does not coincide