This research presents a review and critique of one of Freud's case histories: "A Fragment of An Analysis of A Case of Hysteria," which is known as the case of "Dora" (Freud, 1953). In this research, a summary and interpretation of the case are presented in the initial discussion, which is followed by a critique of the case in the concluding discussion.
"DORA": SUMMARY AND INTERPRETATION
"Dora" was the name Freud used to protect the identity of a young woman whom he treated for a brief period of time in 1900 (Freeman, & Strean, 1981). Because the young woman voluntarily ended her treatment at the end of eleven weeks, and before Freud was prepared to end the treatment, Freud (1975, p. 241) referred to the case as a "fragment of an analysis of a hysteria . . . ."
Dora was an eighteen year old young woman when she was first brought to Freud's professional attention. She was brought to Freud by her father, who had been treated by Freud some years earlier. The father suffered from what Freud called a confusional attack, which was followed by symptoms of "paralysis and slight mental disturbances" (Freeman, & Strean, 1981, p. 175). Upon learning that the father had contracted syphilis before he had married, Freud prescribed a course of treatment for that disease, following which Freud reported that all of the symptoms disappeared.
Dora's family was composed of four persons the father and mother in their forties at the time the case came to Freud's attention, Dora (18), and an older brother, who was a year and a half older than Dora. The brother was not a major player in the case. Dora had always been very attached to her father; however, her relationship with her mother was described as having been unfriendly for years (Freud, 1953).
Two other persons, however, were major players in the case. Freud referred to these two people as Herr and Frau K. Dora's father told Freud that he, his wife, and Dora had formed ...