Psychotherapy as entropy management

McKenzie, Karen and Murray, George (2013) Psychotherapy as entropy management. Medical Hypotheses, 81 (2). pp. 156-158. ISSN 0306-9877

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2013.05.023

Abstract

We present the hypothesis that the laws of thermodynamics can be usefully applied to psychotherapy. In this model psychotherapy is presented as a means of entropy management, whereby the patient trades entropy (in this case the expressed symptoms of mental disorder) with the therapist. The therapist serves to increase the capacity of the patient, both through developing a shared understanding of the challenges the patient faces and through generating shared solutions. This process can be understood in terms of entropy trade where energy is successfully redirected into adaptive behaviour. The hypothesis and proposed model of psychotherapy are evaluated in the context of current thinking about the components of successful psychotherapeutic outcomes; including evidence based practice, therapist competence and adherence and the therapeutic alliance.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Published online 14-6-2013 ahead of print.
Subjects: C800 Psychology
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User: Karen McKenzie
Date Deposited: 12 Nov 2014 16:48
Last Modified: 17 Dec 2023 15:32
URI: https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/18054

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