The British Journal of Psychiatry 130: 586-591 (1977)
© 1977 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
A new technique for the treatment of guilt
D Friedman and A Grossman
A behavioural technique is described suitable for the treatment of patients
with high levels of guilt who attempt to relieve their depression by
risk-taking activities which reflect their individual wishes and fears, or
who suffer anxiety due to unacceptable past behaviour. It is recommended as
an alternative brief method of treatment to psychoanalysis and is based on
the application of behaviour therapy to a patient's psychopathology. Three
case histories are described to illustrate the principles of the technique.