The term applied to the theories and practice of the school of psychology originating with Freud and developed by Jung and other psychotherapists (see PSYCHOLOGY). It depends upon the theory that states of disordered mental health have been produced by a repression in the subconscious of painful memories or of conflicting instincts, thus absorbing the individual's mental energy and diverting attention from normal mental activities.

Psychoanalysis aims at discovering these repressed memories, which are responsible for the diversion of mental power and of which the affected person usually is only dimly aware or quite unaware. The fundamental method of psychoanalytical treatment is the free expression of thoughts, ideas and fantasies on the part of the patient. To facilitate this, the analyst uses techniques to relax the patient and maintains a neutral attitude to his or her problems. In the course of analysis the patient will re-explore his or her early emotional attitudes and tensions.

The fundamental conception of psychoanalysis is hard to prove by orthodox scientific methods, so is often challenged by some psychiatrists; but it has been widely adopted and developed by other schools of psychology. Freud's work changed the attitudes of the scientific community and the public to the problems of the neurotic, the morbidly anxious, the fearful and to the mental and emotional development of children.