The original aim of the present work, which was initiated by Dr. Michael Balint, was to explore Brief Psychotherapy carried out by psycho-analysts who are relatively skilled and experienced. To this has been added an attempt to reconcile the 'clinical' and 'objective' approaches to psychodynamic material, by treating clinical judgements exactly as rigorously as is appropriate, no more and no less. A review of previous work leads to little definite conclusion. A complete spectrum of views can be found, from the most 'conservative' (e.g. brief psychotherapy is only effective in the mildest and...