AGING AND RETIREMENT - A DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOANALYSTS AND ORGANIZED PSYCHOANALYSIS

Organized psychoanalysis has a long history of discussing and formulat ing policies on retirement, but follow-through has been lax and few an alysts retire unless forced by illness. Institutes tend to avoid and d eny the problem of the impaired analyst. Procedural guidelines are nee ded for assessing competency and imposing involuntary retirement. The authors recommend that all institute appointments be time-limited and that medical clearance specifically addressing conditions potentially impairing professional functioning be required for appointment and ren ewal. (Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 61 [4], 469-480).