Psychoanalysis today
The December article "Not Your Great-Grandfather's Psychoanalysis" documents the metamorphosis of psychoanalytic theory and technique, often not very well depicted in the university setting. It should also be noted that most psychologists who have applied for psychoanalytic training in the last 25 years were well versed in cognitive-behavioral therapy and other behavioral theories and techniques. Their graduate training has actually contributed to the enhanced rigor of contemporary psychodynamic techniques and research design.
Hopefully, the Monitor article will expose students to the richness of the psychodynamic field and the long history of lively debate within our community. (For example, the psychoanalyst-psychologist Erich Fromm in the 1950s cautioned against Freudian adherence to Victorian values.)
I also hope the article can mark the beginning of a dialogue among psychological models. Given the stressors in our national environment and the ever-increasing limit on access to treatment, we do not serve our potential patients well by engaging in infighting among providers.
Ira Moses, PhD
New York, New York
Treating substance abuse
In response to the December article "An Underappreciated Intervention," the model for helping the families and friends of alcoholics—CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training)—provides promising information in terms of persuading substance abusers to get into treatment. However, I take issue with the comparisons to Al-Anon and Nar-Anon. The CRAFT approach was successful in urging "67 percent of substance users into treatment, compared with 29 percent under an approach based on Al-Anon and Nar-Anon." This outcome is not surprising since the Al-Anon and Nar-Anon programs explicitly state that the purpose of the programs is not to persuade the substance misuser to get into treatment, but rather to enable families and friends to deal with the effects of substance misuse. Members come to meetings because of the substance misuser but not for the misuser. It is unfair to compare two programs with different goals.
Mary E. Posner, PhD
Rockport, Indiana
Send letters to APA Monitor on Psychology Editor Sara Martin at smartin@apa.org. Letters should be limited to 175 words and may be edited for space and clarity.
