DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOANALYSIS

This article is intended to familiarize the general practitioner with the important concepts in the practice of psychoanalysis. It provides an overview of the development of the field of psychoanalysis, conside ring it as a theory of personality, as an explanation of psychopatholo gy, and as a research procedure. It also explores psychoanalysis as a method of treatment and presents an outline of the knowledge and train ing necessary to become a psychoanalyst. A consideration of the analyt ic process includes a review of the postulates that govern its applica tion-the analytic process, the therapeutic dyad, and psychodynamic int erventions. Historical and political issues are examined, including th e spread of psychoanalytic theory, the various contributions of import ant psychoanalytic thinkers, a review pf the struggle of nonmedical ps ychoanalysts to break the one-time monopoly held by medical psychoanal ysts, and the ongoing love-hate;relationship between clinical practiti oners and academic psychologists. In addition to providing this backgr ound material, this article explores the issues currently facing the f ield of psychoanalytic thought-the need for integration of the structu ral and relational perspectives and the outlook for the future of the discipline (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.