The relationship between psychoanalysis and schizophrenia.
In this article, the author considers psychoanalysts' current attitudes towards schizophrenia. After early optimism of a psychoanalytic approach, interest has waned, other than in the field of first-onset psychosis. This was because of poor outcome figures and regarding schizophrenia as now having a biological, rather than psychological, base. The author argues that there is a paradox, because only psychoanalysis offers a framework for relating to psychotic patients in a way that helps them to make sense of their experiences. A framework is described, with clinical examples, to illustrate the application of analytic thinking to patients with schizophrenia. Psychoanalysis needs to revitalize its attitude to psychosis, as it has a significant contribution to make within general psychiatry, not least in the training of the next generation of psychiatrists.
Lucas
Richard
R
Richardnlucas1@aol.com
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011572:Psychoanalysis; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*