APsA Announces Winner of the 2025 Scientific Paper Prize
The award recognizes a landmark meta-analysis demonstrating the impact of psychoanalytic interpretations on treatment outcomes
New York, NY — November 25, 2025 — The American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA) today announced that the 2025 Scientific Paper Prize has been awarded to “Psychoanalytic Interpretations and Treatment Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” authored by Jack Keefe, Ph.D., and Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Ph.D.
The Scientific Paper Prize, accompanied by a $1,000 award, honors the most outstanding empirical research paper relevant to psychoanalysis published in the previous calendar year. It is sponsored by the Committee on Scientific Activities – Subcommittee on Science Paper Prizes of the American Psychoanalytic Association.
This year’s winning paper represents the first systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the relationship between psychoanalytic interpretations and clinical outcomes, bringing rigorous empirical data to a core concept of psychoanalytic work. The study synthesizes findings from 16 peer-reviewed studies involving nearly 900 patients/clients, demonstrating that the use of interpretations is significantly associated with improved treatment outcomes, yielding a robust, medium-sized effect across diverse clinical contexts.
The authors’ analysis highlights how interpretations help patients connect past and present experience, understand emotional patterns, and build new psychological capacities—offering a clearer picture of how interpretive work contributes to therapeutic change. Their findings strengthen the bridge between research and clinical practice and underscore the continued relevance of psychoanalytic thinking within contemporary psychotherapy.
The winning paper will be formally recognized during the 2026 National Meeting in San Francisco on Thursday, January 29, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The winning paper will be presented by Jack Keefe. Cynthia Lucas, LCSW, will provide a clinical presentation on the subject. Individuals must register to attend the National Meeting to participate in the award session.
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About the Scientific Paper Prize
The Scientific Paper Prize recognizes exemplary empirical research published in English in any peer-reviewed journal. Authors need not be APsA members. Papers are identified through a combination of committee review of major psychoanalytic journals and open submissions. The prize committee evaluates studies for methodological strength, relevance to psychoanalysis, and contribution to the scientific understanding of mind and treatment processes.
Editorial correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Cynthia Lucas, LCSW, co-authored the paper. This is incorrect. The co-authors of the winning paper are Jack Keefe, Ph.D., and Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Ph.D. Lucas is providing a clinical presentation on the subject at the formal recognition on January 29.
