Letters
Psychoanalysis debate
Case against psychoanalysis in modern mental health services was unsubstantiated rhetoric
BMJ 2012; 344 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e1773 (Published 14 March 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;344:e1773
- T David Simpson, child and adolescent psychiatrist and psychoanalyst1
- 1Institute of Psychoanalysis and Tavistock Clinic, London, UK
- david{at}tdsimpson
Salkovskis and Wolpert argue that psychoanalysis has no place in modern mental health services and make several damaging statements about its value.1 These include: that psychoanalysis resists the notion of outcome evaluation—“it makes no attempt to diagnose the patient’s condition, and does not recognise schizophrenia, or others with a genetic cause”; that “no attempt is made to find a cure”; and …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £184 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£50 / $60/ €56 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.