In November 2003, the International Psychoanalytical Association launched its new strategy aimed at tackling the crisis in psychoanalysis reported by societies across the globe arising from the decline in both the number of patients seeking full analysis and candidates in psychoanalytic training. As the IPA's new secretary-general, I will be directing this strategy under a program called Developing Psychoanalytic Practice and Training (DPPT). In July 2003, the new Board of Representatives allocated $300,000 for 2004 to fund local and regional DPPT projects.
While there are common factors contributing to the decrease in analytic patients and candidates, the DPPT recognizes that local conditions contribute significantly to the nature of the crisis experienced by specific societies and that locally devised action plans offer the best hope of addressing the problem. The strategy has, therefore, been designed to empower individual societies to grapple with the challenges they face on a local level.
For societies in the same locality, region, or country facing similar challenges, the strategy has been designed to offer them the flexibility to group together and jointly develop projects to assess and remedy the problems they collectively face.
The DPPT also takes into account the different starting positions of societies. Some societies or regional bodies, including APsaA, are already well advanced in their recognition and assessment of the crisis they face, whereas others have yet to come to confront the situation. Taking this difference into account, the strategy allows for two application streams: Stream A for those yet to carry out the investigative groundwork needed to make an accurate assessment of the local impact of the crisis and its causes, and Stream B for those who already possess this information and wish to implement action plans to tackle the causes of the crisis.
IPA members have each received a “Request for Proposals,” informing them how to submit “Expressions of Interest” for projects to be funded under the strategy. So far, Expressions of Interest have been received from two regional bodies, including APsaA, as well as from a number of smaller applicant groups. The first 2004 deadline for applications was March 1. The IPA is encouraging those who were unable to meet this deadline, to take advantage of the second opportunity in 2004 and get their applications in by September 1. It is hoped that money will be available to fund DPPT projects in subsequent years.
We see the strategy as a long-term investment by the IPA. Bearing in mind the nature of the crisis faced by societies, we may only be able to judge the impact of the DPPT strategy after a decade or so.
Anyone requiring more information about the DPPT should e-mail Piers Pendred at the IPA—piers@IPA.org.uk.
Donald Campbell is secretary-general of the International Psychoanalytical Association. He is past president of the British Psychoanalytical Society, where he is a training and supervising analyst for adult, child, and adolescent patients, and is also former chair of the Portman Clinic.