Clinica di coppia e psicopatologia: alla ricerca dei modelli latenti

This study explored the domain of psychopathology within the context of couple relationships in view of the proliferation of diagnostic manuals currently used in the clinical practice. Using an inductive methodology as well as techniques for textual analysis, the research aim was to investigate the interpretative models and their conceptual categories underpinning 75 couple therapy case studies written by prominent therapists. The case studies were selected among the scientific literature that has promoted the development of marital therapy over the past half century. Using a purposive sampling strategy, the selected cases resulted in a proportionally stratified group in relation to independent variables such as the average age of partners, the type of help demanded by couples, and the type of clinical approach used by therapists. The emerging diagnostic model included five core themes (i.e., sexuality, dyad, the event of marriage, offspring, father of origin) and was interpreted according to three different levels of analysis: (1) the intrinsic level, in order to identify the key dimensions underlying marital functioning as they appear from the accounts under analysis; (2) in terms of closeness and distance between the five core themes; (3) on the basis of their differences in respect to the aforementioned independent variables. The model and its conceptual limitations are discussed from an intergenerational perspective providing a revision of the notion of “humor”.