Some comments on psychoanalysis in the French university system

Psychoanalysis is in a somewhat better position in French universities than elsewhere in Europe. Although the situation can at times be difficult, psychoanalysis remains the major reference for students in clinical psychology, both in the adult sector and in that of children and adolescents. This is to some extent related to the setting up of a European interuniversity study group on teaching and research in psychoanalysis and psychopathology (SIUEERPP), which brings together psychoanalyst lecturers (belonging to various schools of thought) in order to defend the ongoing presence of psychoanalysis in training clinical psychologists. Conditions are not quite as good as regards the training of psychiatrists, where it is much more difficult for teaching based on psychoanalysis to survive, even in the few "strongholds'' that it still manages to occupy. Things are slightly better in child psychiatry, where the illusion that medication alone is sufficient for treatment is somewhat weaker.