The New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute

Research Division

CENTER FOR PSYCHOANALYTIC RESEARCH AT NYPSI

In March 2005, the Board of the Institute approved the creation of a center for psychoanalytic research. Such a center will initially concentrate on the following objectives:

To provide a clearinghouse and information resource about all research activities currently underway (or proposed) by NYPSI members and candidates;
To actively encourage the recruitment and participation of membership and candidates in research activities (and to recruit new candidates and members who share such interests);
To seek funding for a research endowment, as well as support members/candidates seeking funding for individual projects;
To encourage new ways that research activities be included in the curriculum for candidates, as well as special mentoring relationships for interested candidates and members;
To develop guidelines for research procedures and protocols sponsored by the Institute, and to mediate any conflicting claims pertaining to ongoing research activities.

The Co-Chairs for the Center are Drs. Wendy Olesker and John Crow. The steering committee consists of Drs. Andrew Aronson, Wilma Bucci, Peter Dunn, Leon Hoffman, Barbara Milrod, and Asher Simon (by invitation).

An advisory board, consisting of internationally recognized researchers in psychoanalysis and related fields, will be organized to assist in the planning and implementation of specific long-term strategies. A series of meetings with the membership and interested other parties is planned for the early fall. Further information about the Center may be obtained by contacting Dr. Olesker or Dr. Crow directly at:

wendy_olesker@psychoanalysis.net (212-874-6320) or jfcrow@med.cornell.edu (212-744-7003).

News and development of the Center will also be available on this website.

Research Study Group of the Division of Post-Graduate Studies

Sherwood Waldron, M.D., Director

Measuring Psychoanalytic Work and Benefit: The Analytic Process Scales (APS)

Open to all members of the Institute and Society, and, space permitting, to guests (by application), this group has developed reliable rating scales for assessing the contributions of patient and analyst to the analytic work. We are now in the initial phase of a larger scale study of the process and outcome of three analyses, as assessed by the APS applied to recorded psychoanalytic sessions divided into segments. This permits the study of what interventions under what circumstances facilitate the analysis. In collaboration with another group, we are developing outcome measures, as well. Those interested may participate by rating recorded sessions and then comparing scores with colleagues. Meetings are twice monthly, generally the second and fourth Wednesdays.

Contact Dr. Waldron for further information.

Research Division of the Treatment Center

An opportunity is provided for research projects by graduate members of the Institute and other qualified scholars. Several projects of this kind are currently in progress.

Contact Dr. Peter Dunn, Treatment Center Medical Director, for further information.