The Patient–Therapist Relationship: The Field of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy. [La relación paciente terapeuta: El campo del psicoanálisis y la psicoterapia psicoanalítica.]: Joan Coderch. Ed. Paidós and Fundació Vidal i Barraquer. 2001. Pp.  271.

Joan Coderch has for many years studied the conceptual aspects of the theory and practice of psychoanalysis. His works have appeared in articles and books, including an exhaustive volume on interpretation (see IJPA, 1997,  78:  615-17). In this new book, Coderch investigates the analytical link, conceived as an interpersonal space, in which the relationship unfolds through dialogue.

This is the perspective of a Kleinian-trained psychoanalyst with vast clinical and teaching experience, and Coderch has provided some important reflections on some of the trends in current psychoanalysis. He tackles controversial issues with clarity, notably the philosophical bases of these debates. The exposition is well set out, along with some slight nuances in the face of classical theory. The clinical vignettes at the close of each chapter clearly illustrate the author's theoretical criteria.

This work aims to offer a critical vision of the risk of dogmatism that schools of psychoanalysis run, and which may result in practices that obstruct the therapeutic function and creative spirit. The author comments that in recent decades dissatisfaction has arisen with the traditional model, in which the analyst is the healthy adult who recognises reality and the patient the sick person whose distortions need to be rectified by the analyst. As a consequence of this, many analysts prefer ‘a more egalitarian position, not to be confused with symmetrical’ (p. 22), in which the interpersonal relationship takes on greater importance.

Coderch also considers that, in the usual frameworks of reference, the patient–analyst