Introduction

This group began in February 6th, 1999, within the movement of the General States of Psychoanalysis, as a discussion group about Psychopharmacological drugs and Psychoanalysis. That group began meeting at the Livraria Pulsional – a bookstore and editor -- in São Paulo, spurred by questions regarding current psychoactive drugs. The focus was primarily on  anti-depressant use in our clinics as a means of dealing with psychological suffering.

Rubens Coura, first curator of the group, together with Maria Cristina Rios Magalhães, defined the following group goals:

• "It has become necessary to understand the range of effects that pharmaceutical products exert upon the mind. Furthermore, it must be found out, courageously, the force and fragilities that these substances represent when carrying idealized images of well-being and complete absence of psychological conflict, both for lay populations and for psychoanalysts as well".

•  "Would doctors (psychiatrists and other specialties) be responsible for the population’s fascination with psychopharmacological drugs?

•  "Is it possible to have an open discussion about the use of such drugs, among people who are not specialists in its elaboration and prescription?

•  "Is the specialist in the prescription of psychopharmacological drugs     (i.e., psychiatrists) a professional who accurately prescribes them to his/her patients?"

•  "What goes on with somebody who is both n psychoanalysis, and there is a psychiatrist in the "background," prescribing an antidepressant?"

• "We are ready to discuss the above issues and related ones that are linked to psychopharmacological drugs (1)

The group working on clinical an theoretical issues, met at the Livraria Pulsional every third Wednesday of each month, from the last quarter in 1998 to the beginning of 2004, in order to discuss clinical cases, papers written by its participants and other authors as well.

The following points emerged from discussions:

• How are medications as a whole and, above all, psychotropic drugs, introduced in a psychoanalytic treatment?
• How do those drugs influence treatment?.
• How do drug effects manifest themselves in the transference?
• What about the relationship between a psychoanalyst and a psychiatrist (or another – "background" physician)?
• What is the effectiveness of word and the efficacy of medication when combined with analysis?
• When does medication make analytic treatment possible?.
• Is psychoanalysis being "paralyzed" or hindered by psychotropic drugs?
• What are the limitations of psychotropic drugs and of psychoanalysis?.·
• What are the effects of illicit drugs upon psychoanalytic treatment?
• Current situation of psychopharmacologic drugs.
  Presence of psychotropic drugs: contemporary culture trends
  The culture of narcissism and instant gratification [inmediatismo]
  Psychotropic drugs in people’s idealizations
  The position of psychoanalysts ignoring psychotropic drugs.
  The pharmaceutical industry (2)

From the start, differences in theoretical orientation, analytic training, and participants’ basic professional identity characterized the debate. The only requirement for everyone has been personal participation in the meetings.

Within this period (3) a book on the subject was published by Editora Escuta, in São Paulo, Brazil. Most of the authors had participated in the group debates since the beginning.

The first meetings in  2004 took place at the Sedes Sapientiae. Thereafter, the group got together at the Hospital-Dia "A Casa" and since the last semester 2005 it gathered at some of the participants’ private offices (Breno Serson, Renata Favaro, Teresa Lamberte). Currently, the group meetings are held at Cristina Magalhaes’ address in Higienópolis ( São Paulo). The group remains open to new participants. Only a preliminary contact with one of the participants is required.

References:

Since 2006 the group has been meeting for discussion and debate. At the beginning of 2007, the group began to discuss the possibility of publishing its participants’ writings. This Forum was kindly offered and launched by Psicomundo for that purpose, in February 2009.

Current participants in the group:

• Breno Serson, brenoserson@terra.com.br
• Maria Cristina Rios Magalhães: crismagalhaes@uol.com.br
• Felipe Lessa: flessaf@uol.com.br
• Joel Katz: deldjoul@hotmail.com
• Nilvana Nanni de Castelli: nilvanac@uol.com.br
• Renata Favaro: renatafavaro@uol.com.br
• Sara Elena Hassan: saraelenahassan@hotmail.com
• Silvia Ribes: ribes@uol.com.br
• Teresa Lamberte: teresalamberte@uol.com.br
• Jose Antônio Araújo: joseantonioaraujo1@uol.com.br

References:

• Page of the General States of Psychoanalysis  Estados Gerais da Psicanálise, http://www.estadosgerais.org
• Página dos Estados Gerais da Psicanálise) http://www.estadosgerais.org
• Psicofármacologia e Psicanálise –Comp. Maria Cristina Rios Magalhães -Editora Escuta, Brasil, 2001

Current curator of the Forum and group: Sara Elena Hassan

English version by Sara Elena Hassan, psychoanalyst, M.D., L.M.H.C.

Revised by Susana A. Galle, Ph D, M.S.Ppharm., N.D.integrative doctor