| Sumario: | A report on a case that documents an extreme example of “fostered dependency.” After 18 years of psychoanalysis, which eventually reached eight to ten sessions per week, the patient sought legal redress and compensation for negligent treatment. The lawsuit claimed that continued psychotherapy initially created, and then unduly fostered, dependency. Other problems referred to were dual relationships, confused boundaries, excessive sessions, exorbitant fees, length of treatment, failure to keep records, failure to identify goals, and failure to keep therapy focused on the patient's well-being. This case is an example of the extent to which dependency can be created and manipulated. It suggests a strategy whereby the profession can facilitate a patient's rights and raises a number of broader issues about the conduct and ethics of psychotherapy.
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