Protein extract as a surrogate mother.

Brief dynamic psychotherapy, carried out by an resident in training, can bring significant improvement to a patient who does not necessarily meet ideal selection criteria. S. had experienced early childhood deprivation resulting in adult psychosomatic manifestations of feeling hypoglycemic under pressure of responsibility or during fear of abandonment. He soothed himself with the aid of a bottle of "protein extract," which he carried at all times on his belt. The 21-week therapy resulted in his increased ability to differentiate the sources of his anxiety and allowed him to find new and more mature ways of coping with stress. Although still confronting internal conflicts and anxiety, he relinquished the protein-extract bottle and began to take a more active role in work and relationships. With the help of brief dynamic psychotherapy, this patient was able to start moving forward in his personal growth. Finally, although requiring ongoing supervision and training, resident therapists should be encouraged to treat difficult patients with brief dynamic psychotherapy despite their limited experience with such a promising therapeutic technique.