It is hard to take issue with an analyst as eminent as Dr. Owen Renik in the article "Psychoanalyst Describes Success of One-Session Analysis" in the July 7 issue, but his suspicion is close to the findings of Dr. Alfred Adler. The latter said that by the time a person comes to see a psychiatrist, he has already decided on a course of action, and this is why so many different forms of psychotherapy work.

In the case mentioned by Dr. Renik, we do not have "analysis" in the true sense of the word, since we do not know what made up the patient’s inhibiting conflicts or on his decision on a course of action. We merely know of his course of action in the course of a few months.

To have "analysis" in the true sense of the word, one would have to see what made up for the conflict until then, how the patient decided to do something about it, and the meaning of the relationship to Dr. Renik. My guess would be he saw Dr. Renik as a supportive father or mother but, to be sure, we would have to ask and understand the patient.

Max Day, M.D.

Newton Center, Mass.