title: Psychodynamic psychiatry--past, present, and future.
abstract: At this point in the history of psychiatry it is important for psychodynamic psychiatry to strengthen its identity as a discipline in its own right-distinct from organized psychoanalysis. Although some of its principles overlap with psychoanalytic psychology, there are important differences. Psychodynamic psychiatry places a greater emphasis on immediate therapeutic outcome. It has a much wider patient base, and flexible models of duration and frequency of treatment. Its assumptions also rest on scientifically validated data to a much larger degree than psychoanalysis. A sturdier identity might help psychodynamic psychiatry stand alongside bio-descriptive psychiatry as a core component of American Psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College, New York, NY, USA. rcf2@Columbia.edu
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*