A Primer on Psychoanalysis for Postgraduate Psychiatry Residents

Psychoanalysis occupies a unique position in psychiatry, simultaneously a body of knowledge, a method of clinical investigation, and a form of treatment. Despite its relevance to clinical practice, postgraduate psychiatry residents often encounter the subject with limited structured exposure, resulting in either fascination or dismissal. This primer aims to bridge that gap by providing an accessible, theoretically grounded introduction to psychoanalysis and its derivatives psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy for postgraduate psychiatry residents. It outlines the core principles of psychoanalytic theory, the evolution of the field since Freud, key underlying neurobiological concepts, and the common factors shared across various dynamic therapies. The paper does not serve as a training manual, nor does it provide detailed accounts of individual defense mechanisms, models of mind, dream analysis, drive theory, or the historical development of analytic schools. It is intended to sensitize residents to the field and provide a foundation for further independent study.