psychiatrists, as in MDs, in the US used to study psychoanalysis until about the 80s/90s. i think one factor that discredited it is that psychoanalysis does no

psychiatrists, as in MDs, in the US used to study psychoanalysis until about the 80s/90s. i think one factor that discredited it is that psychoanalysis does not have an adequate theory or treatment for diseases like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. these both seem to be mostly biological, are attested throughout history and nobody had any way of really dealing with them before lithium and antipsychotics. (some would say that people with these disorders used to become shamans or priests, but I think that this is somewhat disputed these days.) anyway, as far as I know no amount of wisdom, compassion, or even complex theories of mind will treat psychosis, although they certainly all can help get somebody to stay on their medication. and i don't think it's a minor thing -- seems to me like the core problem a psychiatrist ought to be able to treat, even if in numbers depression and anxiety are way larger.