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Psychoanalytic researchers are confronted with many complex and challenging contradictions which are connected to psychoanalysis as a modern science of the unconscious. On the one hand, many contemporary psychoanalysts still stick to the central paradigm of Freud's understanding that clinical experience and research cannot be separated. Insight is followed by the curing of the patient and simultaneously supports research. However, in the age of worldwide ‘Freud bashing’ (cf. e.g. Lear, 1995 and the reduction of the resources in the health systems, there is more and more criticism of this junction of research and cure (‘Junktim-Forschung’, cf. Freud, 1927). In the wake of these debates, it is claimed time and again that psychoanalysts need to be subject to so-called controlled studies, apparently forgetful of the fact that the discussion concerning these studies has gone on for decades (cf. inter alia Kächele, 1992; Leuzinger-Bohleber etal., 2003). A historically outdated model of unified science (einheitswissenschaftlich.es Modell) is considered to be the yardstick for quality and forms the basis for these claims.