Informed Consent to Psychoanalysis: The Law, the Theory, and the Data

Informed Consent to Psychoanalysis examines the legal and ethical frameworks surrounding consent in psychoanalytic treatment. Authors Elyn Saks and Shahrokh Golshan present research and analysis of how informed consent functions within the unique context of long-term psychoanalysis. The book combines legal scholarship with clinical data to address key questions about disclosure requirements and patient autonomy in psychoanalysis. Through case studies and empirical research, the authors investigate what information analysts typically share with patients and how this aligns with legal standards for informed consent. The work includes interviews with practicing psychoanalysts and examines their views on informed consent, along with their current practices and concerns. The authors explore specific challenges that arise in psychoanalytic settings, including the open-ended nature of treatment and the role of transference. This text contributes to ongoing discussions about patient rights and professional ethics in mental health treatment. The intersection of law and psychoanalysis raises fundamental questions about autonomy, therapeutic effectiveness, and the balance between disclosure and the preservation of analytic technique.

This book appears to have limited public reader reviews available online. On academic databases and legal resources, reviewers note: What readers liked: - Clear explanation of informed consent laws in psychoanalysis - Strong balance of legal theory and real clinical examples - Inclusion of empirical data from actual patient studies - Useful for both analysts and legal professionals What readers disliked: - Dense legal terminology that can be challenging for non-lawyers - Limited scope focused mainly on US laws - Could benefit from more international comparisons Available Ratings: - WorldCat: No reader ratings - Google Books: No reader ratings - Amazon: No customer reviews - Goodreads: Not listed Most discussion appears in academic journals and legal publications rather than consumer review sites. The book seems to be used primarily by professionals and students rather than general readers. Note: Given the specialized academic nature of this text, a comprehensive review of general reader opinions is limited by the scarcity of public reviews.

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📚 Author Elyn Saks is not only a legal scholar but also lives with schizophrenia, making her perspective on mental health treatment and patient rights uniquely informed by both professional expertise and personal experience. 🔍 The book explores how psychoanalysis differs from other forms of therapy in terms of informed consent, as the process itself can alter a patient's ability to make autonomous decisions about continuing treatment. ⚖️ This is the first comprehensive examination of informed consent specifically for psychoanalysis, filling a crucial gap in both legal and mental health literature. 🗣️ The authors conducted original empirical research with practicing psychoanalysts to understand how they actually handle informed consent in their practices, rather than relying solely on theoretical frameworks. 📖 The book addresses the paradox that while psychoanalysis aims to increase patient autonomy, the intense therapeutic relationship may temporarily decrease a patient's independent decision-making capacity.