Challenge for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy : Solutions for the Future

From The Critics

Reviewer: William Miles, MD(Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This book is composed of a series of essays, written by leading European and American mental health professionals from a variety of schools of thought, covering numerous pertinent topics in the fields of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.
Purpose: The purpose is to offer the reader an incisive, worldwide view of the present state of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, and to suggest solutions to the numerous potential problems the fields face in a rapidly-changing healthcare market. Such pertinent topics as the role of psychoanalysis in a field rapidly shifting to more biological treatments, the potential for research in the psychoanalytic process, and the role of managed care in psychotherapy are discussed.
Audience: The book is targeted for anyone interested in pursuing advanced training in psychotherapy, though there is a presumption of basic understanding of the history and practice of the field. Intended readers would be medical students considering residency training in psychiatry, mental health workers considering more advanced training, and advanced-trained professionals curious about the direction the field may be headed.
Features: The book essentially is a collection of essays. There are a few graphs depicting historical trends and changes in the field, but these in general are not needed, and the book does not suffer because of a lack of illustrations. Each essay is copiously referenced, and a bibliography of the contributors is provided. The subject index is useful.
Assessment: This book should be of great interest to mental health workers who are curious about the present state and future trends of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. It is a thorough synopsis of where these fields are and where they may be headed, written by people who are well-respected in psychiatry and psychology. Subject matter that tends to get overlooked in today's managed care market is tackled: the continued importance of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.

William Miles

This book is composed of a series of essays, written by leading European and American mental health professionals from a variety of schools of thought, covering numerous pertinent topics in the fields of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. The purpose is to offer the reader an incisive, worldwide view of the present state of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, and to suggest solutions to the numerous potential problems the fields face in a rapidly-changing healthcare market. Such pertinent topics as the role of psychoanalysis in a field rapidly shifting to more biological treatments, the potential for research in the psychoanalytic process, and the role of managed care in psychotherapy are discussed. The book is targeted for anyone interested in pursuing advanced training in psychotherapy, though there is a presumption of basic understanding of the history and practice of the field. Intended readers would be medical students considering residency training in psychiatry, mental health workers considering more advanced training, and advanced-trained professionals curious about the direction the field may be headed. The book essentially is a collection of essays. There are a few graphs depicting historical trends and changes in the field, but these in general are not needed, and the book does not suffer because of a lack of illustrations. Each essay is copiously referenced, and a bibliography of the contributors is provided. The subject index is useful. This book should be of great interest to mental health workers who are curious about the present state and future trends of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. It is a thorough synopsis of where these fields are and where they may be headed,written by people who are well-respected in psychiatry and psychology. Subject matter that tends to get overlooked in today's managed care market is tackled: the continued importance of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.

Booknews

Contributions from leading European and American professionals from a variety of schools of thought discuss current issues of importance for practitioners in the field, and explore promising opportunities and methods for developing patient care. Subjects include the future of individual psychotherapy, issues in research in the psychoanalytic process, the quest for affordable and effective psychotherapy, and consideration of public interest in the future. de Schill is director of research at the American Mental Health Foundation. Lebovici is a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of North Paris. Distributed by Taylor & Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

4 Stars! from Doody