Knight · Clinical psychology & psychotherapy 2017 · theoretical model with case vignettes · n=2

A proposed model of psychodynamic psychotherapy linked to Erik Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development.

Cited 115 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Theoretical framework and expert opinion illustrated by two non-systematic clinical vignettes.

PubMed 28124459 · doi:10.1002/cpp.2066 · record verified 2026-08-31

What was done

The author developed a theoretical model of psychodynamic psychotherapy structured around Erik Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development. The framework conceptualizes therapy as a progression triggered by client searches and resolutions that facilitate ongoing identity development, emphasizing basic trust and hope as foundational therapeutic elements. Two clinical vignettes were presented to illustrate the model.

What was found

The abstract reports no quantitative measurements, statistics, or numerical data. It presents a conceptual framework mapping psychotherapy to Erikson's developmental stages and applies these ideas qualitatively across two case vignettes.

Why it matters

It provides clinicians with an alternative theoretical framework grounded in life-span psychosocial development rather than classical psychosexual stages to understand therapeutic progression and identity formation.

Limits

The paper is a conceptual proposal without empirical testing, quantitative outcome measures, or comparative evaluation. The evidence is limited to theoretical reasoning and two illustrative clinical vignettes.

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