On psychotherapist-patient sex: discussion paper. 1990

G B Palermo
Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

The transference phenomenon as central to the problem of sex between psychotherapist and patient is discussed. Socio-semantic factors related to the evolution of psychotherapy from Freud to the present are presented. Contemporary pertinent studies are reported. Societal and legal attitudes towards offending therapists are briefly touched upon. Reflections are made and suggestions are offered for dealing with this serious issue.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009014 Morals Standards of conduct that distinguish right from wrong. Morality
D010817 Physician-Patient Relations The interactions between physician and patient. Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D011613 Psychotherapy A generic term for the treatment of mental illness or emotional disturbances primarily by verbal or nonverbal communication. Psychotherapies
D004992 Ethics, Medical The principles of professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of the physician, relations with patients and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the physician in patient care and interpersonal relations with patient families. Medical Ethics
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012725 Sexual Behavior Sexual activities of humans. Anal Sex,Oral Sex,Sexual Activity,Sexual Orientation,Premarital Sex Behavior,Sex Behavior,Sex Orientation,Sexual Activities,Activities, Sexual,Activity, Sexual,Behavior, Premarital Sex,Behavior, Sex,Behavior, Sexual,Orientation, Sexual,Sex, Anal,Sex, Oral
D012922 Social Change A shift, alteration, modification, or evolution of human behavior and culture, which over time, results in measurable consequences on societal values and norms. Modernization,Social Development,Social Impact,Change, Social,Changes, Social,Development, Social,Developments, Social,Impact, Social,Impacts, Social,Social Changes,Social Developments,Social Impacts
D014167 Transference, Psychology The unconscious transfer to others (including psychotherapists) of feelings and attitudes which were originally associated with important figures (parents, siblings, etc.) in one's early life. Psychological Transference,Transference (Psychology),Psychological Transferences,Psychology Transference,Psychology Transferences,Transference, Psychological,Transferences (Psychology),Transferences, Psychological,Transferences, Psychology

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