[A new research method in psychiatry: the therapeutic companion]

In this paper, the profile of the therapeutic companion (T.C.) is drawn. This is a person, not necessarily a psychologist, who has been especially trained to cooperate in a psychiatric therapeutic equipment from a complementary position to the therapist in charge (T. Ch.). His function is to accomplish the therapist's instructions which mainly aim to contain the patient's anxiety and to give him pertinent responses to this symptomatic behavior. The link T. C.-T. Ch. is examined; a fluid communication between the parties and permanent supervision of the T.C.'s work is strongly recommended for a satisfactory therapeutic work. The indications for the inclusion of the T. C. comprise psychotic decompensations in border-line patients, acute psychosis and suicidal or aggressive behavior toward others. Special emphasis is laid on the research possibilities of this procedure: "natural" observations can be made and corroboration of hypothesis about therapeutic conduct can be attained. In respect to the number of T. C. to employ in each case. It depends on the patient's pathology. Not always, though, the theoretical convenience of only one T. C. all the time for some cases is feasible, due to the emotional strain of the task. The probability of a betterment of the therapeutic efficiency, together with the diminishment of time and cost of internment are some of the advantages of this approach.