309 – Psychoanalytic Research

Description: Psychoanalysis is often criticized because its concepts are difficult to operationalize in ways that are deemed reliable and valid. It cannot be subjected to the kind of double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that are in vogue in the pharmaceutical world. This course will present evidence regarding the efficacy of psychoanalysis. It will illustrate how concepts derived from psychoanalysis have fueled meaningful research in the social and biological sciences (including neuroscience). The course also will critique so-called empirically-supported treatments (ESTs) and will address the inability of the DSM-5 to meaningfully illuminate the problems experienced by the people who come to us for help.

Target Audience: This class is for clinicians at the intermediate to advanced level.