How Psychotherapy Changes the Brain: Perspectives on The Effects of Psychoanalytic Therapy on Depression and Anxiety Neural Substrates

Depression and Anxiety are two of the most common psychopathologies with a high prevalence among clinical and general populations. The most commonly used form of psychotherapy is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, to treat the symptomatology of Depression and Anxiety; previously used treatments include the use of Psychoanalytic therapy. This perspective article aims to provide some consolidation on the neuropsychological aspects of Psychoanalytic therapy by merging the paradigms of psychoanalysis and neuropsychology. The intention is to underlie the point that while the aetiology of some symptoms of these two common psychopathologies may be addressed using present evidence-based standards, the core features may be of psychodynami nature and thus, it is relevant to students, teachers and researchers to keep this in mind while formulating classroom-teaching, psychoeducation, diagnosis and interventional strategies for people and families with these psychopathologies.