Introduction

(from the chapter) Psychoanalysis has always been in a process of development, and mentalization-based child therapy-previously known as developmental therapy-for the treatment of children whose development has come to a standstill is the latest branch on this tree of knowledge (Bateman & Fonagy, 2004; Hurry, 1998a). A combination of data from psychoanalysis, infant research, attachment research, and neurobiology was of decisive significance in reaching this point. It is becoming clear that neurobiological processes can be understood very well on the basis of psychoanalytic frameworks (Kaplan-Solms & Solms, 2000). These new insights into people's mental functioning also serve to foster collaboration, resulting in an integration of the more relationship-oriented and the more competence-oriented treatments. This book aims to fill a growing need in mental health care for children and young people for an integrated treatment-that is, one using several different modes of treatment simultaneously when the problems are complex. Treating complex problems in children with new psychoanalytic techniques is expected to add a new dimension to the practice of treatment, one that is interesting to cognitive behavioural therapists and psychoanalytically schooled psychotherapists alike. One step further, mental health care for children and adolescents may well draw benefits from the achievements of psychoanalysis, thus embedding psychoanalysis more firmly in the field of mental health care. To achieve this, not only will the various forms of psychotherapy need to be integrated, but the therapists as well (Bateman & Fonagy, 2004; Bleiberg, 2001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)