Some notes on the phenomenology of psychological disorders: from the birth of Freudian psychoanalysis to the possible contribution of multiple etiopathogenic factors

In this contribution, the author explores the shift from viewing psychological issues as ‘psychic pathology’ to adopting a perspective of ‘pathological psychology’. This transition underscores the need to consider the intricate interplay between individual and environmental factors in the development of psychological disorders. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding mental illness as a result of complex interactions and disruptions in equilibrium. Alongside neurobiological influences, life experiences and the environment also wield a pivotal role. A clinical case of a four-session-a week psychoanalysis illustrates the significance of the environment. This case highlights how the interplay between internal and relational-environmental factors is crucial not only in understanding symptoms but also in the interpretive process. © 2023 The Scandinavian Psychoanalytic Review.