ABSTRACT
The study of psychosis has a long history in psychoanalysis and so does the debate about the suitability of psychoanalysis for treatment of schizophrenia. For decades, Chestnut Lodge was not only a hospital but also a clinical research and educational institution. A unique patient staff ratio – about 20 analytic therapists for 100 patients – made possible prolonged and intense clinical work with schizophrenic and other severely disturbed patients. Inter-staff discussions were encouraged and facilitated. This quasi-academic approach to in-depth individual case studies led to clinical findings and theoretical formulations that had a significant impact on developments in American and international psychoanalysis. Many of these findings and theoretical formulations are relevant to the current studies and treatments of psychotic and non-psychotic patients.
