Interpretation and Interaction: Psychoanalysis or Psychotherapy? Oremland, Jerome D. New Jersey/London:  The Analytic Press. 1991,  184 pages, $29.95.

The similarities and differences between psychoanalysis and psychotherapy is of great interest to clinicians. The issue of matching modality and patient is part of this interest.

In his book, Interpretation and Interaction: Psychoanalysis or Psychotherapy? Jerome D. Oremland addresses these questions. He proposes that we conceptualize interactive psychotherapy, psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy and psychoanalysis as a triad of therapeutic modalities. In Oremland's opinion, each modality has elements in common, but is distinctly different. The main focus of this book is to define psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy and distinguish it from other modalities. Oremland posits that psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy is not a diluted form of psychoanalysis but an alternate modality that can have an impact on intrapsychic structure and effect personality change.

Oremland begins with a concise history of the development of psychotherapy, pointing out the historical underpinnings of the analytic orientation. He continues with an exploration of comparative technique that establishes the position of each modality on the triad, using clinical material to illustrate his ideas. According to Oremland, interactive psychotherapy can be directive, suggestive, and manipulative, often with modeling aspects. Transference interpretations are