Paris Psycho-Analytical Society

For some years past there has existed in Paris a kind of centre of psycho-analysis in the members of the Evolution psychiatrique, among them certain of the younger psychiatrists who were interested in psycho-analysis. Originally Laforgue was the only member of this Society who supported psycho-analysis, but as time went on he won over other members, including Borel, Codet and Pichon. This little circle, which was joined at the end of 1925 by Parcheming and Löwenstein, and in 1926 by Marie Bonaparte, has always kept in close contact with analysts in other places, as, for instance, with Hesnard in Toulon, and with Odier and de Saussure in Geneva.

In the spring of 1925 it was resolved to hold a congress of French-speaking analysts. The congress met in Geneva on August 1, 1926, the day before the annual 'Congrès des Aliénistes et Neurologues de Langue Française', and it was decided to hold a similar congress every year. On this occasion Laforgue spoke on 'Schizonoia' and Odier read a paper entitled 'Contribution à l'étude du surmoi et du phénomène moral'. The papers were followed by a lively discussion.

The second congress was held on July 24, 1927, at Blois. Odier read a paper on analysis of the obsessional neuroses. A third congress will take place at Antwerp in August, 1928, at which Laforgue and Löwenstein have been asked to speak on analytical technique.

It is due to Laforgue's energy that the members of the Evolution psychiatrique, together with the smaller analytical group, have organized themselves into a Psycho-Analytical Society. This was founded on November 4, 1926. The Society resolved to join the International Psycho-Analytical Association as the Paris Branch. It was admitted provisionally by the Central Executive and fully recognized by the Innsbruck Congress. The following were elected to serve on the Council for 1927: President, Laforgue: Vice-President, Sokolnicka; Secretary and Treasurer, Löwenstein.

At the time that the Society was f