Holding and Interpretation

<p>In his illuminating introduction Masud Khan to whom Dr Winnicott's case notes were entrusted relates this definite text of <em>Holding and Interpretation: Fragment of an Analysis</em> to an earlier phase of the treatment of the same patient described by Winnicott in his paper 'Withdrawal and Regression' also included in this volume.The case documents the therapeutic care of a highly gifted professional man who suffered a psychotic breakdown with acute depression and who through analysis and hospital treatment was gradually helped to recovery. It is remarkable for many things: Dr Winnicott's skill at 'holding' the patient in the analytical sessions and providing guidance through sensitive interpretation; his ability to re-enforce the patient's sexual and ego functions; his instinctive recognition of the value of silence (as a way of showing trust and of not destroying by intent); his capacity to accept the paradox that verbal communication can be both meaningful and a negation of psychic reality; and not least his acute judgment of when to stop the analysis.</p>