[Disorder specific therapy and psychoanalysis--a contradiction?]

The concept of disorder in the ICD-10 is self-contradictory as it is not purely descriptive and neutral in nosological terms. If a concept of disorder is used instead that avoids ideology and normative presuppositions it can easily be reconciled with psychoanalytic theory and practice. Likewise, concepts of specificity are compatible with psychoanalytic thinking. specificity in psychoanalytic terms is not a strict and narrow concept; it is linked to a peculiar and interesting understanding of the interrelations between theory and practice: clinical practice is not only a form of theory application but can influence theory. The discussion on disorder specific therapy is a challenge for psychoanalysis in 2 respects: 1. Psychoanalysis still needs a differentiated clinical theory on how to deal with symptoms in a concrete and practical sense. 2. In order to remain attractive for psychiatric postgraduate students or others, psychoanalytic teaching has to consider the disorder specific classification systems as a didactic starting point.