Cultivating a Culture of Concern Regarding Confidentiality in Writing About Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysis

It has been five years since the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) accepted the comprehensive report of the Confidentiality Committee providing contemporary perspectives on preserving confidentiality of patients’ clinical material in training, professional exchange through presentations and publications, and in the use of telecommunications for treatment, teaching, and supervision. An overarching recommendation of the committee was to “foster a culture of confidentiality in which protection of the patient’s privacy and dignity becomes a paramount concern at every point in the development, sharing, and presentation of clinical material” (2019, 11). We believe such a “culture of concern” can develop within the psychoanalytic community worldwide as a manifestation of a shared commitment to helping one another ensure that patients’ rights and expectations for confidentiality are honored in our scientific literature. Challenging oneself to ask the following questions is a start: Why am I writing? About whom? For whom? When is an appropriate time to write about a case? What is the context or where is the setting? How is the material being used and for what purpose? Consulting with trusted colleagues before publication of clinical material is one step in monitoring how an analytic author’s unconscious may lead to blind spots in writing. During the publishing process itself, having several pairs of cautious eyes on the content – including those of each author, editor, and reviewer – is another level of safeguarding. Details that may seem precious to the writer may be unnecessary for the reader. Being transparent about the fact that steps have been taken to protect confidentiality provides an ongoing reminder about the necessity of doing so. The aim is to build a sense of mutual responsibility for the welfare of all patients.

Although the IPA report did not specifically address child and adolescen