Theoretical overview of two types of anaclitic and introjective depression with emphasis on Sidney Blatt theory

Blatt highlighted two intertwined pathways of healthy development and therapeutic processes: the anaclitic pathway and the introjective pathway, in this regard, also two types of introjective and anaclitic depression is proposed; which require independent treatments with various emphases despite having similar symptoms. However, in the available therapies, only the same symptoms were emphasized regardless of two completely different types of depression. They all seek to reduce similar symptoms in all depressed patients. Although Blatt et al. have separated two groups of depressed patients theoretically for years, psychotherapists are not familiar with the symptoms, etiology, and treatment patterns of these two types of depression. In the present study, we will theoretically review the two types of anaclitic and introjective depression and discuss the underlying factors and therapeutic implications of each.