Psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic psychotherapy and supportive psychotherapy: contemporary controversies

The author explores the controversies involving psychoanalytic psychotherapy from conceptual, clinical and educational perspectives. He proposes an integrated concept of psychoanalytic modalities of treatment, and their subdivision into standard psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychoanalytically based supportive psychotherapy. Indications and contra-indications for these therapeutic approaches are outlined in the light of clinical experience and psychoanalytic research on these issues. It is proposed that psychoanalytic institutes teach psychoanalytic psychotherapy to candidates in psychoanalytic training. The author stresses that we now possess a broad spectrum of psychoanalytically based approaches to patients that significantly expand the therapeutic effectiveness of our profession, and thus can strengthen the social impact of psychoanalysis.