Analysand

analysand/psychoanalysand (analysant/psychanalysant) Before 1967, Lacan refers to the one who is 'in' psychoanalytic treatment as the 'patient' (Fr. patient) or the 'subject', or uses the technical term (psych)analysÈ. However, in 1967 Lacan introduces the term (psych)analysant, based on the English term '(psycho)analysand' (Lacan, 1967: 18). Lacan prefers this term because, being derived from the gerund, it indicates that the one who lies on the couch is the one who does most of the work. This contrasts with the old term (psych)analysÈ which, being derived from the passive participle, suggests either a less active participation in the analytic process, or that the analytic process has finished. In Lacan's view, the analysand is not 'analysed' by the analyst; it is the analysand who analyses, and the task of the analyst is to help him to analyse well.