The conference will be divided between exploring four different psychoanalytic models and their relevance to the treatment of major primitive psychopathologies. Dr. Panajian will discuss Freud’s understanding of two principles of mental functioning, thinking, negation, disavowal, and delusions as an attempt to recover psychic functioning. Klien’s paranoid schizoid position, depressive position, manic and obsessive defenses will be discussed. Depressive position and capacity to tolerate paradoxes will be viewed by clinical examples. Winnicott’s psych-soma and the relation to the mind, transitional phenomena, and fear of breakdown will be explored. Bion’s model of complexity, theory of thinking, and various types of transformations and disturbance of time and space will be discussed. Dr.Panajian will discuss Piaget’s model of cognitive development of concrete operation and their significance in understanding schizoid, borderline, and psychotic functioning. The significance of space centered interpretations will be illustrated in primitive pathological functioning. Dr. Panajian will demonstrate clinical examples of the treatment of narcissistic, borderline, schizoid, psychotic personality, bipolar psychotic and a schizophrenic patient. Such concepts as negation, the work of the negative, negative hallucination, infinity and emotional experience, the emergence of the body in time and space will be discussed. Furthermore, infantile psychic withdrawal, chaotic analytic field, vertical and horizontal splitting will be discussed clinically. The notion of time and space continuum, sensory-motor schemas and their role in developing internal and external space will be demonstrated in borderline and psychotic patients.
APsA Publications

The Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association (JAPA)
JAPA is a peer-reviewed journal publishing original articles and commentaries, ground-breaking research, thoughtful plenary addresses, in-depth panel reports, and more.

The American Psychoanalyst (TAP)
APsA’s triannual magazine, TAP, offers a psychoanalytic perspective on current events in psychology, the arts, and culture for mental health professionals, students, and the general public.

Psychotherapist Newsletter
The Psychotherapist Newsletter features scientific programs and publications about psychoanalytic psychotherapy, personal reflections, social and community issues, and advocacy.
© 2009-2025 American Psychoanalytic Association | 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 2310, New York, NY 10168 | Phone: (212) 752-0450 | [email protected]

