Title
IPA in Health Committee
Description

Background 

Since we live in a rapidly evolving world, besides pondering clinical practice in light of social and cultural changes, we need to foster a psychoanalysis that can intervene in new scenarios – in the consulting room, yes, but also outside of it. The broad goal of the “IPA in the Community” committees is to expand the scope of psychoanalysis, so that we can make the most of psychoanalysis’ potential.

The IPA in Health Committee will study the subject of health, focusing on interdisciplinary work with the medical specialties that are most related to, and in dialogue with, psychoanalysis.

It is envisioned that the committee will work with teams of professionals, contribute to primary prevention projects, focus on current problems where psychoanalysis can cast light (eg. eating disorders, gender development, dysphoria, violence), and showcase proven group techniques, such as the Balint method. The committee will also give place to the contributions of psychosomatics, a field in which psychoanalysts (eg. Pierre Marty, David Liberman, Marilia Aisenstein) have made important contributions.

 

Mandate

The IPA in Health Committee is mandated to:

  1. Collect data from around the world regarding work being done by IPA members in the field of health.
  2. Promote the organisation of interdisciplinary events focused on psychoanalysis and health.
  3. Develop bridges between the IPA and health practitioners, to enhance the interchange of experiences, the development of theories, etc.
  4. Explore the possibility of using prizes to encourage new/highlight existing high-quality work at the intersection of psychoanalysis and health.

 

Sub-committees

It is envisaged that the previous Psychoanalysis and Mental Health Committee (and its Addiction sub-committee) will be brought under the umbrella of the IPA in Health Committee. It is also envisaged that the IPA in Health Committee may eventually develop additional sub-committees to focus work on specific domains, including:

  • General medicine
    1. Medical specialities (eg. neonatology and paediatrics, dermatology, surgery, gynaecology and assisted fertilization, oncology)
    2. Psychosomatics
  • Mental Health
    1. Links with Psychiatry
    2. Food disorders
    3. Violence


Ways of working and reporting

The IPA in Health Committee will be expected to do most of its work electronically, using GoToMeeting, or other free-to-use communication systems. The Committee, like all IPA committees, will be expected to be self-supporting for secretarial and other purposes. It will have access to the web and email support services offered by the IPA.

Any face-to-face meetings should take place, so far as possible, adjacent to IPA or regional congresses. The Committee will provide a written report to the Board at least annually.

 

Composition of the committee

The IPA in Health Committee will be composed of a Chair and six members (two from each region).

The Committee may request the appointment of Consultants to advise on specific issues as needed (Consultants will not be funded to attend in-person meetings).

 

Budget

The Committee will propose a budget during the annual IPA budget cycle.

 

Approved by the Board December 2017

Full NamePosition
Dr. Harvey J. SchwartzCo-Chair
Ms. Jennifer DavidsMember
Jeffrey GussMember
Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Albert KüchenhoffMember
Prof. Dr. med. Humberto Lorenzo PersanoMember
Dr. (Mrs.) Karen F. PronerMember
Dr.ssa. Claudia SpadazziMember
Dr. Norman StrakerMember
Dr. Jorge Claudio UlnikMember
Dr. José Alberto ZusmanMember