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The following papers were developed in an ongoing examination, carried out at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, of ethical issues specific to psychoanalysis. The first seminar was conceived of and led by Phyllis Meadow, whose preliminary considerations are presented here in three papers. Faculty and doctoral candidates gathered to consider the particular needs of psychoanalysis in light of existing professional codes and standards. The seminars have continued, with advanced candidates and faculty studying developing trends and problems.
Psychoanalysis has a distinctive ethical quality based on both philosophical and technical principles. The former, the humanistic conviction of the value of truth, personal autonomy, and personal choice, guides the application of the latter. The existence of the unconscious and of transference and countertransference defines the analyst's frame of reference and behavioral imperatives.
The consumer protection movement, the managed-care industry, and well-meaning legislatures have made deep incursions into the practice of the mental health professions, crucially for our considerations in the area of confidentiality. Professional associations adopt and regularly revise codes designed to ensure