Though analytic process is a core concept in psychoanalysis, no consen
sus definition or reliable method of assessment currently exists. This
paper reviews clinical definitions of analytic process and concludes
that analytic process is comprised of free association, resistance, in
terpretation and working through. Psychoanalytic outcome research sugg
ests that analytic process develops in only 40 per cent of analyses. T
hough the presence of analytic process is highly correlated with thera
peutic benefit, significant numbers of analytic patients (50 per cent)
achieve good outcome despite the fact that an analytic process never
developed in treatment. A review of process research on the components
of analytic process suggests that a variety of measures already exist
for free association, resistance, and interpretation. As in the clini
cal literature, working through is less well defined and studied. Alth
ough several researchers have assessed analytic process using a variet
y of techniques, these clinically defined component measures of analyt
ic process have not yet been synthesised into a comprehensive scale. S
uch a measure of analytic process would have the benefit of being easi
ly applied to an adequate sampling of session material and would resul
t in a judgement about the presence and quality of analytic process. A
consensus definition and the development of a reliable method to asse
ss analytic process will be of use in clinical, educational and resear
ch settings as well as in attempts to define and quantify psychoanalyt
ic treatment.