The Refused Rescue: Commentary on Paper by Carla Leone.

This comment attempts to explain the intensity of negative emotions in the professional collaborations described by Dr. Leone. It uses Freud's “rescue motif” to describe how therapists unwittingly may wish to “rescue” their patients from “unseen spouses.” It suggests that rescue attempts may be frustrating because rescuers may underestimate the commitment of rescuees to their (apparently) unpleasant situations. The commentary also expresses appreciation for Leone's understanding of the “unseen spouse” as a mental product of the patient, not as a veridical description of an actual person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]