Exploring clinical assessment and treatment through the psychodynamic diagnostic manual (PDM) framework

The Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM) intends to promote a diagnostic approach that considers not only symptoms, but also idiographic, subjective characteristics and psychological functioning across different life stages. Accordingly, the PDM approach supports clinicians in their efforts to understand the depth and surface of their patients’ emotional, cognitive, interpersonal, and social patterns; make “clinically meaningful” and empirically grounded diagnoses; take developmental perspectives into account; and integrate other branches of knowledge and theoretical traditions into their diagnostic process. The main goal of this panel is to present findings from four studies that adopt the PDM framework, employing various assessment tools and methodologies. These findings evidence how the manual enhances the integration of the diagnostic process with clinical practice and empirical research. The first study, by Tironi et al., focuses on children and adolescents with Somatic Symptom Disorders (SSD). Utilizing the PDM diagnostic framework, the study analyzes profiles of mental functioning and defense mechanisms, providing a broaden understanding of this often underrepresented condition, enhancing tailored treatment interventions. Furthermore, the second study by Tracchegiani examines the importance of assessing dyadic and family relational patterns in the child diagnostic assessment,particularly exploring the mother-child relationships. Adopting a PDM oriented approach, the study explores how maternal mental functioning during pregnancy influences the quality of the mother-child relationship at 6 months, specifically focusing on mother’s attachment state of mind, reflective functioning (RF) and defense mechanisms. From a more clinical viewpoint, the third study by Quintigliano and Fortunato. focuses on selective mutism, exploring two cases from the clinicians’ perspective, and investigating the key dimensions of psychological functioning, including defense mechanisms, mental functioning capacities, and personality styles or types. Lastly, the fourth study by Mirabella et al., through a single case study on binge eating, aims at describing and discussing the clinical value of a diagnostic assessment within the PDM framework. Capturing the complexity of binge eating pathology, this study offers valuable implications for assessment and treatment interventions.