How Senior Psychodynamic Psychiatrists Regard Retirement

Abstract

The variety of personal experiences and attitudes about professional work among psychodynamic psychiatrists who have attained retirement age are explored through semi-structured interviews. Of 21 members of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry interviewed, 6 report fulltime engagement in professional activity, 10 partial reduction, and 5 full retirement from practice. Through direct quotations from the respondents' interviews several matters are considered including the concept of retirement, structural changes in practice, health concerns, dream experience, spirituality and matters of legacy, how others have influenced attitudes toward continued work, and how fears of retirement are manifest among those currently in practice. Among the conclusions is the suggestion that the sense of self-regard and personal satisfaction of those who do retire is far greater than anticipated by those still in active practice.