What kind of relationship exists between a psychoanalyst and his patient? What makes this relationship special? Why do notable improvements during a cure escape all effort of understanding? Why, in numerous cases, does the cure bring no benefits? Why does the cure frequently create persistent deterioration?

F.Roustang, who is a psychoanalyst, is undoubtedly one of those who, for the last twenty years, has been questioning with the most critical force the meaning and the effects of psychoanalysis, whose object is to cure the patient.