ABSTRACT
Diagnosis and treatment in general psychiatry, as a formulation and as a joint reconstruction process between the clinician and the patient, is an ongoing process in clinical care. The practice of general psychiatry needs the contributions of psychoanalytic/psychodynamic theory and practice in improving it towards a more human based good clinical practice. Clinical practice in psychiatry takes place in the context of language. Language is a means of expression and verbalization on one hand and reciprocally, a means for reconstructing the clinical practice, i.e., psyche of the patient. Language shapes the clinical practice and is shaped by it. An often neglected exercise in general practice of psychiatry is making a comprehensive and integrative formulation. Such a formulation assists the clinician to find the best ways in helping the person and includes the biological, socio-cultural and cognitive–behavioural perspectives, where the psychodynamic perspective should be an essential part.
